Davido directly addresses rivarly with Wizkid

At 33, Davido is looking at the Afrobeats game through a different lens. In a candid new interview with The FADER, the Nigerian superstar got real about where he stands with Wizkid—and it’s not where you might think.

Gone are the days when the Davido-Wizkid dynamic was purely about competition. While the “Timeless” hitmaker admits the competitive fire still burns, his focus has shifted dramatically. “I’m 33 years old, I think [I’m] still competing. My head is just at making good music; whoever I make it with doesn’t matter to me. Division right now would make us weaker,” he explained. It’s a striking departure from the narrative that’s fueled countless social media debates and fan wars over the past decade. The message is clear: in 2025, unity trumps rivalry.

Davido’s perspective reflects the massive transformation Afrobeats has undergone on the global stage. When he first broke through, African artists were essentially fighting for scraps on the international scene—a handful of opportunities that forced competition. Fast forward to today, and the genre boasts its own festivals, award shows, and commanding streaming presence worldwide. The pie isn’t just bigger; it’s exponentially larger, with enough room for multiple stars to feast. With a massive, passionate audience across the African continent and beyond, Davido recognizes that collaboration and collective strength will push Afrobeats further than any individual rivalry ever could.

The timing of these comments is particularly noteworthy as Davido continues his promotional run for Oriadé, his sixth studio album that dropped on July 31st. The project sees him diving deep into themes of love, family, and legacy while bridging generations of African talent—from established heavyweights to rising stars ready to carry the torch forward.

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