Nigerian music icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba or Tuface, has sparked fresh debate in the Afrobeats scene by naming Damini Ogulu, also known as Burna Boy, as the leading artist ahead of Davido and Wizkid.
Speaking in an interview on the Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye and posted on X on Sunday, 2Baba shared his views on the current generation of Nigerian superstars.
He clarified that while all three artists have produced hit songs he enjoys, Burna Boy currently operates on a “different level” musically.
“I have my favourite songs from each, from all of them.
“But my own, if I must be put on the spot to say something, I think Burna is on the top of the game right now,” 2Baba said.
The African Queen crooner dismissed direct comparisons between artists as unfair, likening them to painters creating unique works.
DAVIDO, BURNA BOY and WIZKID
He explained that his choice was not based on personal success but on his understanding of the global music space.
“Different artists have different styles. There’s nothing like this one sing pass. Different people have different tastes in what they want and what they like. I’m going into a general aspect of this. I don’t know their bank accounts.
“I don’t have any information about their personal successes or all that. I don’t have that. So I can’t speak on that.
“But from what I can measure from at least common sense and understanding of the music world, I think right now Burna is at the top of this chain.
“Not just in Nigeria, in Africa, in the world. He’s on that but everybody’s doing fantastically well,” he said.
Often regarded as the top three in Nigerian Afrobeats, Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid have long been compared over who is the country’s leading artist.