Veteran musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, has criticized the ongoing public debate comparing contemporary singer Wizkid to the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing the discourse as “ridiculous.”
The controversy resurfaced after an online exchange in which Wizkid claimed he is “bigger” than Fela. The comment came in response to Seun Kuti, who had warned against equating modern pop stars with the legendary activist and musician. In a heated post, Wizkid reportedly referred to Seun as a “fool at 40,” while stating, “I am bigger than your father.”
Speaking in a snippet from an upcoming episode of the Mic On podcast, 2Face said such comparisons fail to respect both artists and their individual legacies.
“Comparing Fela with Wizkid is ridiculous. Apart from the fact that it is disrespectful to Fela, and at the same time, it is also unfair to Wizkid,” he stated.
2Face explained that the two musicians belong to different eras and made impact in entirely different ways within the Nigerian music industry.
The debate has also drawn reactions from the Kuti family, especially following Fela’s posthumous Lifetime Achievement honor at the 2026 Grammy Awards. His daughter, Yeni Kuti, recently urged contemporary musicians to focus on their own journeys instead of comparing themselves to her father.
“Compare yourself with your peers, not Fela,” she said, adding that his legacy is “not up for debate.”
Femi Kuti also expressed regret over the controversy, calling it unnecessary.
“I wish it never came up,” he said, noting that Nigeria faces more serious societal challenges than entertainment disputes.
Despite the differing opinions, the ongoing debate continues to highlight the tension between commercial success and historical cultural significance in the Nigerian music industry.
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