A recent cultural debate reignited after Wizkid declared himself “greater than Fela,” responding to criticism from Seun Kuti, who defended his father’s legacy.
The exchange reopened long-running conversations about influence, originality, and legacy in Nigerian music. Ironically, Wizkid’s catalogue contains several moments where he has sampled or drawn directly from Fela’s work.
Here are six notable examples:
1. ‘Expensive Shit’ (2015)
- Original: Expensive Shit (1975)
- Wizkid version: Expensive Shit (2015)
Fela’s original was a sharp satire inspired by his arrest and alleged mistreatment by authorities. The track critiqued state oppression with biting humour.
Wizkid borrowed the title decades later, but repurposed it entirely — using the phrase to evoke luxury, indulgence, and lifestyle themes rather than political commentary.
2. ‘Joro’ (2019)
- Sample source: Zombie
Wizkid’s global hit Joro incorporated melodic and chant elements from Fela’s Zombie, a scathing critique of the Nigerian military that famously led to violent reprisals against Fela.
While Zombie was politically explosive, Joro transformed its musical DNA into a dancefloor-ready Afropop anthem, largely detaching it from its original protest context.
3. ‘Zombie’ Freestyle (2012)
- Inspired by: Zombie (1977)
Years before Joro, Wizkid had already nodded to Zombie in a 2012 freestyle. The reinterpretation leaned playful and upbeat — a stylistic homage rather than a political statement.
4. Live Performance Call-and-Response
Fela frequently energised audiences with the chant “everybody say yeah yeah,” notably in:
- J.J.D. (Johnny Just Drop)
Wizkid has adopted similar crowd-hyping phrases in performances and collaborations, weaving them into modern Afropop contexts.
5. ‘Beat of Life’ (2012)
- Artist: Sarz ft. Wizkid
The track incorporates Afrobeat-inspired arrangements and performance-style interjections reminiscent of Fela’s live band structure and rhythmic phrasing.
6. ‘The Matter’ (2013)
- Artist: Maleek Berry ft. Wizkid
While not a direct sample, Wizkid’s vocal cadences and ad-libs echo Afrobeat traditions rooted in Fela’s performance style.
Legacy and Reinterpretation
The debate over greatness often overlooks the reality that modern Afrobeats stands on the foundation laid by Afrobeat. Wizkid’s work demonstrates how Fela’s musical framework — complex percussion, chant structures, horn-inspired melodies — continues to influence contemporary Nigerian pop.
Whether seen as homage, reinterpretation, or commercial repackaging, the connection between the two artists underscores Fela Kuti’s enduring imprint on global African music.
