Can Wizkid Succeed In The US?

When Wizkid scored a win with Drake on ‘Come closer’, there were pockets of fans that had to become trolls on social media. First they brought in Skales and how he continues to fail in his promise to bring back a Grammy. That’s pretty normal troll material on Twitter. Nothing to see there.

But the trolls didn’t stop there. They had to take a shot at D’banj, painting him as a failure for not having ‘tangible personal achievements’ during his time with Kanye West and G.O.O.D Music. As it’s normal with Twitter, once a troll makes a classless half argument, devoid of knowledge, like flies to a open sore, it attracts vultures who begin a candid debate.

D’banj was dragged into Wizkid’s achievement, and ridiculed as a failed ‘international artist’, who ran a campaign that backfired and gave him nothing to show for it.

In 2016 at the MTV Music Africa Awards, I had a conversation with Ghanaian rap legend, Sarkodie, and all he had to say was that D’banj was instrumental in letting the continent know that they had a product that was in demand.

“I think it’s about that time. I think it’s our time.” Sarkodie said. “There was always gonna be a time when Africa was gonna take over, so it’s our time, it’s the right timing now, and we are proud to be part of the whole movement. I always give props to D’banj who made us believe that certain things can happen.

“And now you have the likes of them Wizkid, Davido, myself, Ice Prince, R2bees, Stonebwoy…we pushing it. I think it’s just the time for Africa to take over, everybody I going to be a part of it, and Afrobeat is the new sound.”

Critics fail to see it in this light, judging from the bitter and unproductive end of the D’banj deal. But for a young Wizkid, Davido, Ayo Jay and many others, he was inspirational. He took the leap when others cowered. And as a result, he lost a lot.

But the culture gained. Africa and Nigeria gained from that move. And that’s what Wizkid is enjoying now.