Fela Created the Game, Wizkid Mastered It — Ope Banwo

Music executive and Stingomania Records founder, Dr. Ope Banwo, has weighed in on the recurring comparisons between Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and global superstar Wizkid, offering a perspective he says puts respect on both names without forcing an unnecessary rivalry.
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‎According to Banwo, the debate misses a key point: the two artistes are not competitors, but products of different moments in music history.
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‎Fela created the game. Wizkid mastered it,” Banwo said.
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‎He described Wizkid as one of the most successful African musicians of the modern era, praising his global reach, consistency, and ability to take Afrobeat to mainstream audiences across continents.
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‎“Wizkid is a certified global superstar — hit records, international awards, sold-out arenas, and undeniable influence. He has taken Afrobeat to places many of us never imagined,” Banwo stated.
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‎However, Banwo noted that Fela’s contribution operates on a different level entirely, one that transcends commercial success.
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‎“Fela didn’t just make music; he invented a sound, a movement, and a cultural language. Afrobeat did not exist until Fela created it. He wasn’t chasing charts — he was shaping identity, resistance, and consciousness through music,” he said.
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‎The Stingomania Records founder explained that while Wizkid represents the peak of Afrobeat’s global success, Fela represents its origin.
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‎“You compare Wizkid with the giants of his generation — Burna Boy, Davido, Drake. But Fela belongs in the category of creators and revolutionaries. He changed the ecosystem itself,” Banwo added.
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‎Banwo stressed that comparing the two directly ignores the natural evolution of music.
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‎“You don’t compare the inventor of the game to the player who perfected it. Wizkid is playing at an elite level, but he is playing on a field Fela built,” he said.
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‎He concluded by emphasizing that acknowledging Fela’s foundational role does not diminish Wizkid’s greatness.
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‎“Wizkid is great — no debate there. But Fela is legacy. One mastered the game; the other created it. Both deserve respect, but they are not in the same lane.”
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