Stay local: Davido and Wizkid reignite rivalry

The song sees Davido say, “With our Yankee passport, dem say we local. You better catch up, I go see you later.” While it is a line alluding to Davido’s birth in the United States, for many online, it is also a response to a remark made by Wizkid weeks ago.

In June, the 'Ojuelegba' singer tweeted what was apparently a dig at Davido. “U can't hate on someone doing better than u in what u failed at! Learn and appreciate! Free ur mind from hate young kids” he said, adding in a separate tweet, “The game is only for the real! Catch up or stay local! Don't blame anybody for ur failures! Pray and work hard kids!”

It would appear that fans connected the word “local” on both tweet and song and took Davido’s lyrics on ‘Summer Body’ as response to his rival Wizkid’s tweet.

For a long time, that rivalry went unmentioned by Wizkid and Davido as fans merely speculated about its reality, as both are unarguably the biggest pop acts in Nigeria, and perhaps Africa. In an interview last year, Davido said there was nothing of the sort between them, that it was a rivalry created by others. He said they might work together on an album. That album never materialized. Instead both got signed to Sony Music, where a new chapter in the rivalry appears to have been opened.

At the global music company, their fortunes have been different—though it started well enough for both. Davido featured US R&B act Tinashe on 'How Long', a single that was reasonably, if curiously, received. Wizkid, who got signed later, featured Drake on ‘Come Closer’. Though the Canadian rapper failed to appear in the 'Come Closer' video, to Nigerian fans the song consolidated Wizkid's relationship with the west after the success of 'One Dance'.

Following his initial happiness at the deal, Davido complained loudly about Sony's interference on his music. He returned to Nigeria, named his tour of eight Nigerian cities "Back to Basics" and recorded the hit single ‘If’ with fellow pop act Tekno providing production. Unlike Davido, Wizkid appears to have thrived at Sony, releasing songs with global pop acts Chris Brown and Major Lazer.

A day after the release of the ‘Summer Body’ video, Wizkid posted what has again been interpreted as a Twitter attack. “My people make una remember say Yankee passport no be baba blue, e no dey cure frog voice,” he said, seemingly mocking Davido’s voice and American passport. (Baba blue is Nigerian nickname for a popular nose and throat decongesant.)

The attacks from Wizkid, who previously has said he doesn't have an issue with anyone, raise the question as to why he has chosen now to respond to taunts not directly mentioning him. Perhaps because of his rival’s profile. Or, because his first album under Sony Music is out 14 July, and no publicity is bad publicity. Wizkid might not suffer from insufficient publicity but a high profile beef might not hurt album sales.

So far only fans have taken sides, but Tekno, who is also signed to Sony, appears to have joined in. Shortly after the Wizkid and Davido exchange, he tweeted in Nigerian pidgin, “Na just time. Soon we go know who international pass.” In English: In time we'll know who is more international.

Wizkid, in a tweet that sees him acknowledge Davido’s pop heavyweight status, dismissed the ‘Pana’ singer’s intrusion. “Good morning!" he wrote hours ago. "Ducks don't play where lions play!” Asked if this was a tweet targetting Tekno, Wizkid answered, “Yes! Only 1 duck face!”