Nigerian Afrobeats icon Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, widely known as Wizkid, has sparked conversation online after stating that he had no guidance or template during his journey to stardom.
A clip from his upcoming HBO documentary Long Live Lagos features the Ojuelegba hitmaker reflecting on how he navigated his rise in the music industry, despite being discovered and groomed by veteran singer Banky W.
In the video, he says: “There was no blueprint for me. I had to build a structure for myself.”
His comment immediately set off heated discussions on social media. Many fans and industry insiders argued that the remark seemed to diminish Banky W’s foundational role in his success and overlooked the contributions of earlier music legends who shaped today’s Afrobeats movement.
Wizkid did note in another part of the documentary that Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti motivated him to pursue music, suggesting he wasn’t entirely without influence.
Online reactions have been intense. One user wrote, “I still vividly remember the day Banky W announced on a show that he wants to introduce a boy wonder, a germ in the making. Today, this ungrateful child is claiming otherwise.”
Another commenter added, “Wizkid wouldn’t be where he is today without Banky W giving him that first platform. Respect must be shown where it’s due.”
Watch the video below…