When it comes to Afrobeats, few names shine brighter than Wizkid and Davido. Both artists have earned massive fanbases, broken records, and sold-out arenas worldwide. But along with their musical successes comes a rivalry that has captivated fans for years. The friendly competition, which many hoped would stay light-hearted, has escalated into a full-blown feud with jabs flying back and forth.
Let’s take a look at some of the notable moments in this ongoing saga—and the latest drama that has everyone talking.
2010 – 2017, The Early Days: Seeds of Rivalry Between Wizkid and Davido
The Wizkid and Davido feud dates back to the early 2010s, right when both artists were on the rise. Wizkid released his breakout hit Holla at Your Boy, and Davido released Back When. As such, fans and critics alike couldn’t help but compare them.
They were young, talented, and seemingly destined to lead Nigeria’s Afrobeats revolution. However, with their egos and hunger for success, it wasn’t long before the two started butting heads. Rumors of a brewing rivalry began to spread. However, Davido and Wizkid strived to maintain a facade of camaraderie.
In 2014, Wizkid had just delivered an exceptional performance in New York City, after which he tweeted, “…Proper shows, proper venues…”
Image via X
Of course, fans and critics interpreted it to be a jab at Davido, who had just concluded his concerts. However, in an interview with Olisa Dibua in 2016, Wizkid insisted that the tweet was certainly not about Davido but about faulty sound systems he had experienced in his previous concerts. I guess it’s safe to say that no one bought that story.
In 2017, things began to heat up when Davido seemingly took a shot at Wizkid on Snapchat. He shared a post saying, “Na ‘pon pon’ sound dey reign.” At the time, many interpreted this as a dig at Wizkid’s signature sound, which heavily leaned into such rhythms.
At the time, Wizkid was also teasing his upcoming album, Sounds From The Other Side (SFTOS). Wizkid didn’t take long to respond. He tweeted, “Catch up or stay local.”
Fans quickly picked up on the subtle shade, and the battle lines were drawn.
2017 – 2023: Ceasefire?
For a moment, the two icons seemed to have buried the hatchet. In 2017, Wizkid performed at Davido’s 30BG concert, while Davido performed at Wizkid’s Eko Hotel concert in 2018. These were heartwarming moments that led fans and critics to believe that the two had finally settled their differences.
Image via X
There’s more.
In October 2019, Davido acknowledged Wizkid’s congratulatory message following the birth of his son. In the same breath, he also congratulated Wizkid for the success of his O2 Arena concert.
Image via X
Even when Davido lost his son in October 2022, Wizkid reached out with heartfelt condolences. And when Wizkid lost his mum in 2023, Davido did the same. That same year, the two were seen partying together in Lagos and seemingly supporting each other’s upcoming projects.
Image via X
In addition, the two stars also hinted at joint projects and collaborations in 2023. They even hinted at the possibility of touring together. And even though no official announcement had been made, fans were still super excited at the idea.
But even when it seemed like all was well in paradise, trouble still reared its ugly head again.
2024 | Wizkid and Davido: The Feud Continues
In April 2024, Wizkid seemed to enjoy trolling Davido based on a leaked video where the latter superstar was seen begging on his knees. The two openly exchanged words and comments on social media, making it clear to online onlookers that everything was not well in paradise.
More recently, Wizkid took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to openly diss Davido once more, thereby re-igniting the decade-old beef.
When fans asked when Wizkid’s album would be released, he took to X to say, “Beg me. Just like…” This was a direct jab trolling Davido, who had been seen in a compromising position only a few months ago.
Image via X
That’s not all. He also went further to call Davido “whack” openly.
Ouch.
A lot of fans speculate that this may just be a publicity stunt aimed at getting fans excited about Wizkid’s upcoming project, Morayo.
As it stands, Davido has not yet responded. However, based on their history of social media exchanges, a response may not be too far off.
Nonetheless, Wizkid has fired on. Blatantly disregarding Davido and his feelings, as seen on X.
Image via X
Is There Any End in Sight?
Despite the years of tension, many fans still hope for reconciliation. After all, both Wizkid and Davido represent the best of Afrobeats, and a collaboration between the two would be nothing short of legendary. They have, on rare occasions, exchanged pleasantries and even appeared to squash their beef publicly. But just when things seem peaceful, another round of subtle digs emerges.
At this point, it’s anyone’s guess where this feud is headed. For now, it looks like Wizkid and Davido are content to keep the fans entertained with their rivalry. Whether it’s on social media or through cryptic lyrics in their songs, the battle between these two superstars is far from over.
So, what’s your take? Are you Team Starboy or Team OBO? One thing’s for sure: as long as Wizkid and Davido keep trading blows, fans will be watching every move, waiting for the next chapter in this Afrobeats soap opera.