Wizkid Is No Match For Fela, Dede Mabiaku Explains
Wizkid Is No Match For Fela, Dede Mabiaku Explains as the Afrobeat legend’s former bandmate breaks down why Fela Kuti’s legacy, activism, and cultural impact remain beyond modern pop comparisons. The Fela Kuti legacy returned to the center of Nigeria’s music debate after veteran saxophonist and composer Dede Mabiaku firmly rejected comparisons between the Afrobeat pioneer and global pop star Wizkid. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Mabiaku, who worked closely with Fela for years as both a protégé and opening act, described the comparisons as deeply flawed and historically careless.
According to him, there are no valid standards for measuring a modern pop success against a man who created a genre, challenged military governments, and reshaped African music on a global scale.
He explained that Wizkid’s recent comments and the reactions from his fanbase reflect a growing ignorance of history rather than a genuine assessment of greatness, stressing that Fela’s influence cannot be reduced to numbers, streams, or online popularity.
Mabiaku went further to describe Fela as a disciplined thinker and cultural revolutionary rather than just an entertainer. He revealed that behind the public image was a man who lived with near monastic focus, spending most of his time composing, studying, and refining his ideas.
Fela’s stripped down appearance, he said, was a deliberate philosophy of freedom and authenticity, not a lack of seriousness. He warned that the removal of history from Nigeria’s education system has led many young fans to mistake commercial success for legacy, ignoring the fact that Fela achieved global impact without social media, digital platforms, or industry backing.
While Wizkid has elevated Nigerian pop music worldwide, Mabiaku maintained that Fela’s mission was larger than fame, centered on liberation, truth, and resistance. As debates continue across social media, he concluded that artists may rise and fall with trends, but the legacy of a man who turned music into a weapon against oppression stands beyond comparison.