Controversy has erupted on social media as fans of Nigerian afrobeat superstar, Wizkid, have expressed their outrage over the Grammy Awards organisers referring to him as an “up-and-coming artist”.
In an Instagram post shared on their Instastory, the Recording Academy posed the question, “Who is an up-and-coming Black artist everyone should have on their radar?” alongside a photo of Wizkid. This move has been widely criticized, especially by Nigerian fans who feel that it undermines Wizkid’s accomplishments as one of Africa’s most successful music artists.
The backlash has been fierce, with fans taking to social media to express their disappointment and anger. Many fans felt that the description of Wizkid as “up-and-coming” was disrespectful and showed a lack of knowledge about his status in the music industry.
One fan, @heisdio25, tweeted, “Forget stanship, this is actually disrespectful considering Wizkid is a top three afrobeats artiste.” Another Twitter user, @esportpridee1, questioned, “Wizkid up-and-coming ke? Is Grammy mad?”
The sentiments echoed by these fans highlight the deep admiration and pride that Nigerians have for Wizkid and his musical achievements. They view him as an established icon rather than an emerging talent.
Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Balogun, has gained international acclaim for his infectious afrobeat sound and collaborations with prominent artists such as Beyoncé and Drake. He has won several awards, including three MTV Africa Music Awards and the MOBO Award for Best African Act.
This incident serves as a reminder of the need for global institutions like the Recording Academy to be more informed and sensitive when categorizing artists from different cultures and backgrounds. Wizkid’s fans hope that this incident will prompt the Grammy organisers to rectify their mistake and acknowledge his true stature in the music industry.
