Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has added his voice to the ongoing debate comparing Afrobeats superstar Wizkid and the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
In a poetic analysis shared on X, Charly Boy noted that the two icons represent different eras and forms of greatness, urging fans to move beyond comparisons.
Differing Wizkid’s global commercial success with Fela’s revolutionary activism, Area Fada wrote: “Wizkid dey sing for crowd, stadium full, light dey flash, money dey talk, awards dey stack, world dey shout: Starboy! Fela no need spotlight, him own be fire for chest, kalakuta be him stage, truth be him microphone.”
He further shared their impacts: “Wizkid dey make dem dance, make pain small, make joy flow, Fela dey make dem think, make fear run, make mind wake. One dey rule charts, one rule conscience. One dey give sweet escape, one dey give hard reality.”
Concluding his poetic statement, Charly Boy stated: “But hear me well, my people: River and fire no dey compete. One cool your body, one burn your chain. Different time, different battle, different kind of greatness. No be who big pass… Na who touch your soul pass. Na him Fada wan Know jare.”
This comes amid an escalating feud sparked by Seun Kuti, Fela’s son and an Afrobeat musician himself, who has publicly condemned comparisons between Wizkid and his father, calling them “ignorant and disrespectful.”
Wizkid, responded sharply, asserting his dominance in the industry declaring, “I’m bigger than Fela, your father,” and “Fool at 40! I’m bigger than Fela,” directly addressing Seun.