N. F. Kenure
It's undeniable that Wizkid AKA Starboy is the biggest musical act out of Africa right now. He has consistently belted out hit after hit in the years since Banky W introduced him to us years ago, from “Jaiye jaiye”, “Ojuelegba”, “Pakurumo” to “Soco” and many more. Wizkid has secured international collaborations going head to head and more than holding his own, most notable of which is “One Dance” with Drake and Kyla. He’s also bagged international endorsements with Nike and Ciroc securing his place as more than just a Nigerian entertainer.
Burnaboy emerged not long after Wizkid in 2011 to lukewarm reviews but then blew us all away with his first big hit “Like to party” in 2012, a totally different sound.
There is a depth to Burna’s lyrics and style that eludes the Starboy whose success has been more commercial as he is well versed in anchoring singles on trends and the influence of social media but light on lyrics.
Both artists consistently show they are influenced by Fela. Burna a bit more heavily, an unsurprising fact since his father worked closely with Abami Eda himself. Burna boy has collaborations with Major Lazer and Lily Allen from “the abroad” scene amongst others.
Over the years, Burna seems to have come into his own with a maturity to his sound that belies his years with hits like “Run my race”, “Sekkle down”, “Boshe nlo”, “Rock your body”, “Soke”, “Pree me” and of course, the smash hit “Ye”.
Burna promises to introduce his musical prowess and deliver a different African sound to the rest of the world as he expands his fan base.
The ever prolific Wizkid has proven through the years that he is here to stay. With a rich discography, he is marking a place for himself as a legend, something we could never have imagined when he released “Holla at your boy”.
But what about Burna? What will be his place in the history books? Will he burn out, (please forgive me) or will he take on the baton? As always, only time will tell.
Nov 19, 2018
