2Baba Names Burna Boy Nigeria’s Top Artist Ahead of Davido and Wizkid

Nigerian music icon 2Baba (Innocent Idibia) has sparked fresh debate in the Afrobeats community by naming Burna Boy as Nigeria’s leading artist, placing him ahead of fellow superstars Davido and Wizkid.

Speaking on the Mic On Podcast, the ‘African Queen’ singer said while he appreciates songs from all three, Burna Boy currently operates on a different musical level. “I have my favourite songs from each, from all of them. But my own, if I must be put on the spot to say something, I think Burna is on top of the game right now,” 2Baba stated.

He stressed that his opinion was based on his understanding of the global music landscape rather than commercial success or personal achievements. “I’m going into a general aspect of this. I don’t know their bank accounts. I don’t have any information about their personal successes or all that. But from what I can measure from at least common sense and understanding of the music world, I think right now Burna is at the top of this chain — not just in Nigeria, in Africa, in the world. He’s on that, but everybody’s doing fantastically well,” he added.

2Baba also cautioned against direct comparisons, describing such debates as subjective. “Different artists have different styles. There’s nothing like this one sing pass. Different people have different tastes in what they want and what they like,” he explained.

Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid are widely regarded as the “Big Three” of Nigerian Afrobeats, a genre distinct from the Afrobeat pioneered by Fela Kuti that has grown into a global phenomenon. Early contributors such as D’banj and Timaya helped lay the foundation, while Wizkid, Davido, and Tiwa Savage propelled the genre internationally.

Recently, new stars including Burna Boy, Tems, Rema, Asake, and Ayra Starr have further expanded Afrobeats’ global reach. All four of these acts were nominated at the most recent Grammy Awards, though they were edged out by South African singer Tyla.

Despite Afrobeats’ international recognition, discussions continue over whether the genre can rival the global dominance of pop, hip-hop, and Latin music. Another recurring criticism is the perceived lack of unity among Nigeria’s top artists, with limited collaborations between major acts and occasional rivalries continuing to surface.

2Baba’s remarks reaffirm Burna Boy’s influence both in Nigeria and on the global stage, while also highlighting the ongoing conversation about the hierarchy within Afrobeats’ biggest stars.

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