Global Afrobeats star Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has stirred controversy after declaring that he had “no blueprint” during his rise to fame; a statement many Nigerians say undermines those who helped shape his early career.
The singer made the comment in a newly released snippet from his highly anticipated HBO documentary Long Live Lagos. In the clip, the Grammy winner spoke about building his journey from scratch.
“There was no blueprint for me. I had to build a structure for myself”, Wizkid claimed.
The remark immediately sent social media into a frenzy, with many users insisting the statement downplays the foundational role played by Banky W and the now-defunct Empire Mates Entertainment (EME), under which Wizkid released his debut album, Superstar.
Critics also argued that the singer’s comment overlooks the contributions of iconic Nigerian musicians who paved the way before the Afrobeats global explosion.
Yet, in another part of the documentary, Wizkid acknowledged the influence of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
“Fela Kuti was instrumental to why I believe I could really make music”, he said, noting how Fela’s legacy fuelled his own belief in global possibilities.
Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter) have been divided since the clip surfaced, with some accusing Wizkid of being ungrateful and others defending the context of his statement.
User @Franko_Nero wrote, “I still vividly remember the day Bankole [Banky W] announced on a show that he wants to introduce a boy wonder… Today, this ungrateful child is claiming otherwise. If Banky knew today would come, he would have chased him far away.” Another user, @Arhcent, expressed disappointment, saying, “This guy is erasing the role Banky W and EME played in his career. The person Banky picked from school into the studio is saying ‘I had to build a structure for myself.’ God sees all.”
But some urged the public to take the clip in context. According to @Dukeofisoko, “If he never built a structure, Banky probably wouldn’t have noticed him. This dude came out with his own style… but I understand that English is a problem in this place.” Providing a more balanced view, @Sirdickson opined, “People are debating this with reference to Banky’s impact. There is no real context to that. I believe he was speaking about his style of music. He reinvented himself. Wiz has never denied Banky’s impact. Let’s calm down.”
As anticipation for Long Live Lagos builds, fans are now waiting to see the full documentary to understand the context of Wizkid’s remarks and what they truly reveal about his journey.