Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello has stated that Nigerian music stars Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy have already attained a level of influence comparable to that of late Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
The actress made the assertion during a recent episode of the What I Know podcast, hosted by Korty EO and Seyi Sodimu.
Responding to a question on whether contemporary Nigerian artists could ever reach a legendary status as impactful as Fela’s, Bello argued that some artists have already achieved that feat, particularly in terms of global visibility.
“I feel some of our guys have reached that. The Big 3 have reached it already. International recognition is what we affirm as reaching that level,” she said.
She added that beyond global recognition, factors such as power and financial success also place today’s top Afrobeats stars on the same pedestal.
“In terms of recognition, power and money, I feel like our Big 3 or Big 4 have reached Fela’s level already. I mean, Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and even Asake, too,” Bello stated.
Her comments come amid renewed global recognition for Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. The Recording Academy recently announced the Afrobeat pioneer as a Special Merit Awards honouree at the 2026 Grammy Awards, making him the first African to receive the honour.
