Like Burna Boy, Wizkid Disowns Afrobeats Says He's Not Afro Anything

Image: The Whistler

Nigerian music sensation Ayodeji Balogun, widely known as Wizkid, has made a significant departure from the Afrobeats genre, following a similar move by Burna Boy, another prominent figure in the music industry.

In a series of Instagram posts, the Grammy-winning artist unveiled his upcoming album, 'Morayo,' and explicitly stated that it is not targeted at Afrobeats enthusiasts.

The 'Ojuelegba' hitmaker cautioned against labeling him as an Afrobeats artist and advised fans who enjoy his previous hits like 'Pakuromo' to refrain from downloading the album. He emphasized his growth as an artist, declaring, "Album name 'Morayo' best I ever made. I am not an Afrobeats artistes. Don’t call me that."

Wizkid further directed his message to bloggers, warning them against sharing his new album on their platforms upon its release.

This declaration follows Burna Boy's critique of the Afrobeats genre in August 2023, where he criticized its lack of substance and focus on portraying an idealized lifestyle without real-life experiences.

Afrobeats, which rose to global prominence in the late 2010s, has been hailed as one of Africa's most significant musical exports, with artists like Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, and Burna Boy at the forefront.

Despite hinting at a five-year hiatus from music in November 2023, Wizkid surprised fans by releasing the second installment of his 'Soundman' extended play (EP) in December of the same year.

Source: The Whistler

#Afrobeats
#Burna Boy
#Morayo
#Wizkid