Wizkid vs David: This is their only chance to go become Nigerian legends

The two artistes have projects out, cornered a well-deserved share of the pop market, developed a core following from around the world, covered magazines, and most importantly, keep making a truckload of money every year, from record sales, appearance and performance fees, brand engagements and more. Their celebrity status is unrivalled at the moment.

But just when the signs of boredom and complacency began to creep in, then came the international spotlight. Nigerian music is currently enjoying more recognition than ever, and there is a strong feeling that this will be the legacy that these stars will have. For all their success, Wizkid and Davido have done nothing new. They have simply ran along with the template that had already been crafted by their predecessors and made it more lucrative. Their works, to date, have not created a new path, neither can they hold on to the works of their hands and compare it to other African greats.

But they have a new opportunity to break past that and become gods and heroes. This year Nigerian music is expanding, crossing the continent into new spheres. The creative section of the industry is undergoing a growth, the global music consumers become more aware of Nigeria’s sounds and the novelty of consuming it. Wizkid’s ‘One Dance’ collaboration with Drake and Kyla, topped the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for 10 weeks, and transformed him into a desired player in the international community. Davido’s African dominance has been rewarded by a chance to break replicate it on a wider scale, with Sony Music Entertainment throwing in money and the resources to make that a reality. His debut EP will be out in September. Seyi Shay is playing the UK leagues with Universal Island Records handling her distribution. Ayo Jay, another Nigerian is on Sony’s books too, releasing his work in the US via their flagship record label, RCA Records, home to Usher, Alicia Keys and more.

For the international stars, the infusion of African sounds, drums and elements is going mainstream, and more collaboration is being done with Nigerians. Drake’s writing on “Views” album has been rumored to have more Nigerian influences than he lets on. Young Thug has three recorded songs with everyone. Swizz Beatz has a song with MC Galaxy, and has recorded with Wizkid. Alicia Keys’ ‘In common’ hit song, will sit comfortable on any African playlist. Jidenna, the man once vilified for his description of the Nigerian societal dangers, has brought his music closer home, dancing the shoki, speaking the Nigerian Pidgin English, and appropriating the drum kicks on ‘Little Bit More’. Previously, prior to this explosion, he was content to have his dressing bear testament of his origins. Now, he embraces it, and makes his art a fusion of both worlds.

Wizkid and Davido are fully involved in all of this, and would need to bear the responsibility of leading Nigerian music to achieve more penetration. They have the powers for this. Wizkid has already been on this path for a longer time, touring the world, and collaborating with numerous international stars. His list of announced collaborations are lengthy, one of them manifesting as the super hit song ‘One Dance’. There’s still more to go for the star, as he has a full set up to manage the process.

Davido’s deal with Sony Music has the advantage on paper to be more structured. Signed on an album-dependent deal, the singer is faced with the opportunity to push our music into mainstream America, Europe and beyond. The resources of Sony Music are behind him, with management, sales, publishing and developmental systems in place for the star to shine brighter and expand his influence. If this succeeds, he would successfully break the Nigerian sound into distant areas of the globe, thereby offering our sounds more growth.

If Wizkid and Davido succeed on this international endeavor, they will be the first to spark off a true arms race for Nigerian acts. Major labels will tap into the country’s wealth of sounds, and catalyse a chain reaction that would only result in expansion.

Picture this: 20 years from now, Wizkid and Davido, having finally gotten into their forties. As they walk into any gathering, they are hailed and applauded as the two men, who took our pop international, and blew it on that level. Young kids are taught in schools that the success of Nigerian music on the global scale is all the work of Wizkid and Davido, with well-chronicled accounts of how it all happened, the songs they sang, the deals they struck, and the roads they created for others to walk to greatness.