Nigerian celebrity blogger, Tunde Ednut has revealed why Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid is more respected than his counterparts, Davido and Burna Boy.
In a video shared on Instagram by Tunde Ednut, it stated that Wizkid is highly regarded in the continent because of his impact on changing the treatment of African artists at the BET Awards.
It noted that Wizkid’s refusal to attend the BET awards in 2017 and subsequent criticism of the organizers for not giving African artists the same level of recognition as international artists played a significant role.
Wizkid’s stance prompted a positive change, and starting from the following year when Davido won, the awards for African artists were presented during the main show in front of a live audience.
This move not only elevated the status of African artists but also helped in garnering respect for them on the international stage.
The acknowledgment and equal treatment at the BET Awards have since set a precedent, ensuring that African artists are given the same level of recognition as their counterparts from other parts of the world.
Wizkid’s advocacy for equal treatment in the industry has contributed to the ongoing global recognition of Afrobeats and the artists associated with the genre.
“Beyond his musical prowess, one of the significant reasons Wizkid commands respect across Africa is his pivotal role in changing the treatment of African artiste at the BET Awards.
“Prior to 2018, African artistes received their awards backstage or in front of an empty audience often hours before the main show.
“In 2017, Wizkid won BET Best International Act but chose not to attend the event. He not only refused to show up but also called out BET expressing his discontent in an interview.
“If you are not gonna show us same love, you show your international artiste, if you’re not gonna show us that same love on the main stage then don’t show us no love until we don’t want it.”
“The impact was tangible, the following year when Davido secured the award, it was presented to him during the main show in front of a live audience.
“Since then African artiste have been accorded the same respect as their America counterparts at the BET award,” the voice over behind the video said.
Watch the video below:
KanyiDaily recalls that Davido recently responded to a fan who inquired when he would achieve stadium-selling success like Wizkid and Burna Boy.