Afrobeats sensation David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has stated that the global success of Afrobeats has transcended the long-standing rivalry among Nigeria’s “Big 3” — himself, Wizkid, and Burna Boy.
Speaking in a viral interview on The Breakfast Club, Davido emphasized that the genre’s explosive growth and the emergence of younger stars have made the old comparisons less relevant. “I don’t have a personal relationship with them. I did at some point in time. But I feel like the culture is just so big, and the conversation is bigger than the Big 3 right now — and that’s just the honest truth,” he said.
The Unavailable hitmaker acknowledged the contributions of emerging talents such as Rema and Arya Starr, noting that the spotlight should shift to the collective progress of the genre rather than individual dominance. “There are so many artistes for us to just make this thing about us,” he said. “Right now, the three of us understand that it is bigger than us.”
Asked about the potential of a collaborative track involving the trio, Davido said while it wasn’t out of the question, internal frictions and business interests have so far stood in the way. “It’s not impossible,” he said, “but I feel like people around us wouldn’t want that to happen. Some people make money off us not being cool.”
He hinted at past moments of reconciliation among the trio, suggesting that while fan-fueled rivalries persist, the artistes themselves recognize the need to promote unity in order to propel Afrobeats even further onto the global stage.
The interview, which quickly began trending on social media on Tuesday, has since sparked fresh conversations among fans and music critics alike, many echoing Davido’s sentiment that the Afrobeats movement has become a global cultural force — one that demands collaboration over competition.
