D’Banj excludes WizKid as he names his top 3 Nigerian artists

Veteran Afrobeats star Oladapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’Banj, has sparked conversation online after omitting WizKid from his list of top three Nigerian music artists during a recent appearance on the Adesope Live podcast.

When asked to name his current favorites, D’Banj listed Rema, Davido, and Burna Boy, praising each for qualities he admires.

He lauded Rema for his vibrant energy, Davido for his humility and unwavering consistency, and Burna Boy for his intentionality and powerful live performances.

“Shout out to Rema. I like his energy,” D’Banj said.

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“Then there’s Davido. People should learn from the way he carries himself, like he doesn’t have a penny, yet he’s so consistent.

Burna Boy is too intentional—his live shows are amazing.”

His omission of WizKid—a global Afrobeats icon often grouped with Davido and Burna Boy as part of Nigeria’s “Big Three”—quickly drew attention and mixed reactions from fans on social media.

Interestingly, D’Banj’s mention of Rema comes shortly after the young star publicly honored him at his sold-out O2 Arena concert in London.

Rema credited D’Banj as one of the pioneers who paved the way for Afrobeats’ global success, particularly in the United Kingdom.

“First of all, I want to appreciate you for opening the doors,” Rema said on stage.

“You were one of the first to bring Afrobeats to the UK. You and Don Jazzy held it down. If you never existed, I would have never existed.”

The mutual respect between D’Banj and Rema highlights a generational bridge in Afrobeats, even as debates over the genre’s leading figures continue to stir discussion among fans.