The Nigerian music industry was recently unsettled by a series of beefs, with Afrobeats artistes of all categories throwing jibes at one another.
The beefs, which have been budding for a while, reached their zenith at a time when the infamous Drake and Kendrick Lamar rap beef was raging on the other side of the Atlantic.
DOPE TV examines a few of the well-known feuds endangering the Nigerian music scene.
Davido vs. Wizkid
Regarded as the biggest musicians in Nigeria, Wizkid and Davido have a tense relationship that dates back to their early 2011 days as up-and-coming performers.
The feud has been going on and off for more than ten years, but they have never disclosed the reason for it.
Though efforts at reconciliation have brought the two sides periods of peace over the years, there has always been tension between their cult-like fanbases, “Wizkid FC” and “30BG,” particularly on social media.
The most recent chapter in their story began when many believed that their long-standing rivalry would finally come to a stop, particularly after Wizkid revealed that he and Davido will be embarking on a joint tour following their “More Love, Less Ego” tour.
A leaked video of a man who appeared to be Davido sobbing and pleading for a woman’s attention was previously released by Wizkid.
The Starboy CEO uploaded the video with the implication that his followers should beg for a new song that has the same intensity as the person—who looks to be Davido—in the video.
Social media users were agitated by the tweet, including members of the 30 Billion gang, Wizkid FC, and Davido, who responded later that evening.
Davido clapped back, mocking Wizkid for having his career revived a few years ago only to have it die again. He boasted that Wizkid and others had not known peace of mind since he got into the music business.
He said, “I got nun to say to u my boy! I can retire today and you still not on my level. You be influencer with a songwriter. Wish u well.”
The social media war continued with Wizkid reposting the controversial leaked video the following day and Davido throwing jibes at him both on X and Instagram for days.
Kizz Daniel vs Tekno
The social media feud between Davido and Wizkid and Kizz Daniel and Tekno occurred concurrently.
During the afternoon of April 29, Kizz Daniel saw a tweet in which Tekno refuted a rumor that he had received N1 billion in royalties off their joint song “Buga,” implying that the Fly Boi boss’ wealth wasn’t as great as his own.
Kizz Daniel attacked Tekno for being ungrateful, saying that the song was what “rescued” his (Tekno’s) waning career.
“They mention money, you know you talk a lot,” he remarked. gushing asshole-like shit. See Ekuke, whom Buga helped to save. Oloribu omo ale.
Tekno reacted by telling Kizz Daniel not to provoke him or else he would become enraged.
“I hope you’re hot right now, dude! Exercise caution
Adekunle Gold vs Samklef
Samklef, a producer who is now a blogger, and singer Adekunle Gold recently had a falling out over Samklef calling his wife Simi “ungrateful.”
When they were both struggling artists, Samklef had openly acknowledged that he had affections for Simi. If she didn’t publicly repent for setting him up for failure, he promised never to “fully” forgive.
“I will completely forgive Simi if she comes out and apologizes for setting me up for dragging,” he declared. However, I will remind her for the next seven billion years of who she really is if she doesn’t.
Adekunle Gold responded by telling Samklef unequivocally that his wife owes him nothing.
“When will it be your turn to receive sense from your 7th heaven? Because you are clearly lost in your own damn mind. Simi doesn’t owe you sh*t and it’s about time you stopped calling her name every 3 market days. If anything, you owe me! Stop fooling around and act your age!,” Gold fumed.
Samklef rebuffed, “Dear Adekunle, I made your wife Simi.
“And yes Adekunle your wife Simi owes Samklef a public apology for setting me up for dragging. How u see am?
“And just so u know Simi music career not fit pass the level again. I samklef says o!
“Wey u for just dey one conner dey look or reach out to me for old time sake…You wan use me shine with all this small temporary fame. Say he wife owes me nothing. I beg una for money Abi wetin you mean ? Can you imagine this small boy?”
Simi has responded to Brymo, her coworker, and producer-turned-blogger Samklef’s suggestive remarks toward her.
Remember how Brymo caused a stir last year when he acknowledged that he needed to have sex with Simi while she was single in order to collaborate with her on music?
He claimed that after she turned down his request, he turned down her offer of cooperation.
Simi stated that she couldn’t take what Brymo and Samklef had to say about her seriously and that it was pointless in a recent interview with Angela Yee.
The mother of one said she is confused about their rhetoric and considers their actions as “comedy.”
She said, “I don’t know what these people [Brymo and Samklef] are going on about. The funny thing is that these are two different people and I don’t know why they keep talking about me like that. When you even look at what they’re saying, you can’t even pick out anything. I’m still confused.”
Wizkid vs Don Jazzy
Don Jazzy, the head of Mavin Records, was not immune to Wizkid’s latest social media blitz.
Don Jazzy came under criticism from Wizkid after rapper Ladipoe, a signee of his, made fun of the Grammy-winning musician for saying that “hip hop is dead.”
“Nigerian rappers that survived ‘hip hop is dead’ watching Afrobeat artistes go through their own,” tweeted Ladipoe on his X Twitter.
Wizkid responded to a fan alerting him to the post, writing, “Lol, never chatting with anyone signed to an influencer.” Afterwards.
Additionally, he retweeted two messages that seemed to suggest he called Don Jazzy an influencer.
Don Jazzy unfollowed Wizkid on Instagram after being offended by his comment.
A variety of Nigerian celebrities responded to Wizkid’s veiled jab at Don Jazzy, including sketch creators Mr. Macaroni and Nasboi, and reality stars, Doyin and Tacha.
Wizkid dubbed Don Jazzy “an influencer,” but Mr. Macaroni responded on his X Twitter, claiming that even while he is influential in music, content, films, and brands, it was insulting to “everything he has done and is still doing for the Nigerian Music Industry.”
He described Don Jazzy as a “true legend” who is unselfish and has supported other performers in the nation, regardless of their standing.
In a similar vein, artist and content producer Nasboi criticized Wizkid for disparaging Don Jazzy.
“Wizkid was wrong for talking to Don Jazzy that way. Before now, Wizkid used to respect Don Jazzy,” he stated on the Bahd And Boujee Podcast, co-hosted by reality star, Tolanibaj and actress, Moet Abebe.
Appearing on Cool FM’s Big Friday Show With Tacha, Nasboi revealed that he has been receiving death threats following his criticism of Wizkid for shading Don Jazzy, but maintained that he still stands on his initial stance that the Starboy boss was wrong for shading the Mavin honcho.
“I feel like the context [in which Wizkid called Don Jazzy an influencer] wasn’t okay,” he reiterated.
