Tunde Ednut has explained why Wizkid holds a higher status in the African music industry compared to Burna Boy and Davido.
In a video shared on Instagram, Tunde highlighted Wizkid’s influential role in changing the treatment of African artists at the BET International Awards.
Previously, African artists received their awards backstage, but in 2017, Wizkid won the BET Award and refused to attend, criticizing the show for not giving African artists equal treatment.
Wizkid insisted that if the BET Awards couldn’t treat African artists on par with international artists, they shouldn’t recognize them at all.
This statement had a significant impact, as demonstrated by Davido being invited to the main ceremony after winning the award in 2018.
The voice over behind the video said; “Beyond his musical prowess, one of the significant reasons Wizkid commands respect across Africa is his pivotal role in changing the treatment of African artiste at the BET Awards.
Prior to 2018, African artistes received their awards backstage or in front of an empty audience often hours before the main show.
In 2017, Wizkid won BET Best International Act but chose not to attend the event. He not only refused to show up but also called out BET expressing his discontent in an interview.
“If you are not gonna show us same love, you show your international artiste, if you’re not gonna show us that same love on the main stage then don’t show us no love until we don’t want it.”
The impact was tangible, the following year when Davido secured the award, it was presented to him during the main show in front of a live audience.
since then African artiste have been accorded the same respect as their America counterparts at the BET award.”
Captioning the video, Tunde Ednut wrote; “RESPECT!!!! ✊🏽.”
