By Simon Utsu
Few months into year 2017, I remember sharing an opinion on my Facebook wall which didn’t go down well with a number of folks. I stated in clear terms with facts that Wizkid was a bigger and arguably a better musician than 2Face. A couple of people even went personal on me on that thread. Haven’t I been vindicated by Wizkid’s latest feat?
In the history of the highly coveted MOBO awards, no African artiste has ever been nominated in the international act category talk more of won it. What Wizkid achieved yesternight was unprecedented! By winning that award, he succeeded in putting his feet firmly on the international music scene. On twitter, I saw the handles of major music labels in the US congratulating him. What that means is, he would even have a bigger year(than ever) next year.
And I’m still very sure that Nigerians as usual will still believe he isn’t the best. According to a number of Nigerian music lovers, to be the best, you must be humble (like 2Face) and your lyrics must make ‘so much sense'(like 2Face’s). They keep forgetting that a lyric is just a secondary component of music. They keep forgetting that sound is the #1 component. Without lyrics, a song can still make sense but add lyrics and subtract sound and you have yourself a poem and not music.
Angelique Kidjo won the Grammy award in the mid 90s with Wombolombo which was a beautiful sound made up of very basic lyrics (Have you ever seen this man moving…) repeated throughout. Musicians like Enya and Enigma only need to hum or utter some harmonious sounds on their compositions to make beautiful music.
Nigerians need to rise up above petty sentiments for once and support their own. It’s disrespectful to keep comparing Wizkid with Davido- to be fair to the latter, he’s above average but isn’t fit to be placed on the same pedestal with Wizkid. Tis just like saying Obasanjo who is a great leader in his own rights is on Mandela’s level. Well, I also understand such controversies are created and fuelled by the media in order to keep selling content.
In the 1960s, there was an all conquering boy/family band called the Jackson-5 (Michael Jackson and brothers). When their dominance became too much, the media started pitching them with an average boy/family band called “the Osmonds” just to keep creating controversy and hence, sell content in the process. The same way the media also created rivalry between the older Michael Jackson and music legend Prince.
In the next two years, I see Wizkid bringing home a Grammy or two. Once again, congrats my young friend. Continue making Africa proud.
Utsu is an engineer and a public analyst wrote in from Lagos
