Wizkid Mocks Davido’s Family Wealth: “Rich and Empty” — Afrobeats Feud Escalates
Nigerian Afrobeats superstars Wizkid and Davido have reignited their decade-long rivalry in a fiery social media clash that exposes deep tensions about privilege, hard work, and what it truly means to be “self-made” in the Nigerian music industry.
The drama began when rapper Erigga posted what seemed like an innocent shoutout to musicians who built their careers without family money. Within days, the exchange had spiraled into a full-blown feud, with Wizkid taking a direct jab at Davido’s family wealth and influence, and fans generating over 35,000 posts debating the merits of privilege versus struggle.
The conflict erupted on September 1, 2026, when Erigga, a rapper known for his gritty “grind from the bottom” narrative, posted on X : “Shoutout to all the musicians who don’t come from family money and had to grind for every single dollar they earn.” Though Erigga mentioned no one by name, the post struck a nerve with Davido, who comes from one of Nigeria’s wealthiest families. His father, Adedeji Adeleke, is a billionaire businessman, and Davido has long faced criticism that his success is built on family privilege rather than talent.
Davido quote-tweeted Erigga’s post and fired back, defending artists from privileged backgrounds who still work hard: “No be we say make your pops no guard o. Shoutout to the ones that came from family money and still grind to the top. Comot here with that your useless motivation… imbecile.” He doubled down with another provocative post the following day: “I go chop my own money, still chop my pale own. If e pain you, go slap your poor papa.” This remark was widely criticized as a disrespectful jab at people from less privileged backgrounds.
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Erigga, known for music that reflects his own journey from humble beginnings, did not back down. He questioned why Davido took a harmless shoutout personally and coined a new nickname that quickly went viral: “Slovido”. His response series included: “NA SHOUTOUT TO THE ONES WHEN GET IT OUT THE MUD WITHOUT FAMILY MONEY DEY MAKE DAVID CRASH OUT? From where to where??” and “Big man pikin dey cry say poor men children de hail dem self??? Motivate yourself naw. Ambassador of RICH KIDS.” He also wrote, “Because ur papa get money make we no happy again for our small wins??? I’m disappointed IN YOU SLOVIDO. NA ME U WAN BULLY? NA ME U WAN OPPRESS?” Beyond the personal attacks, Erigga called out Davido’s use of the word “imbecile,” bringing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities into the conversation: “Big love to everyone on the spectrum, Down syndrome, autism, etc… it can never be cool to insult people with a disease.”
Wizkid, Davido’s long-time rival, seized the opportunity to join the conflict on September 4, 2026. In a tweet widely interpreted as a direct jab at Davido’s family influence, he wrote: “My papa get money, my family get money but your people no get development. Rich and empty. Calma.” This tweet mocked Davido’s family wealth while implying a lack of meaningful development in Osun State—a pointed reference to the Adeleke family’s political influence in the region.
The exchange has sparked fierce debate across social media, with fans divided on who is in the right. Many users accused Davido of insecurity and overreacting to an innocuous tweet. @HonitelHQ wrote: “You have a very low self-esteem and it is really pathetic. There is no place in that tweet where he mentioned your name. You are not the only artist in Nigeria that comes from money.”@adelambo added: “He didn’t mention your name or make any references at anyone, he was just giving an encouragement to people without any support.” And @jradun21 noted: “Nobody said coming from a wealthy family means you didn’t work hard. The point was simply to acknowledge those who had to build from zero.” However, others defended Davido, arguing that coming from wealth does not diminish an artist’s hard work. @NurseVictoria01 countered: “There’s no award or glory for suffering. No one stopped your ancestors or your father from securing the bag.”@Feyitayo added: “The easiest way to make it in life is through inheritance. Blame it on your parents if you weren’t born rich, and not try to downplay the efforts of others.”
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This latest clash is just one chapter in the long-running rivalry between Wizkid and Davido, which has been a defining feature of the Afrobeats scene for over a decade. Wizkid previously launched a scathing attack on Davido in October 2024, claiming musical superiority and accusing him of surrounding himself with “broke boys” who worship him. He wrote at the time: “First off, you’re not as fly as me, can’t sing or make music like me, you can’t dress, you don’t make more money than me… Fuck you and your dad’s money, we got ours!” The rivalry has also played out on international stages. At Coachella 2026, fans debated who had the “better” outing—Wizkid appearing as Justin Bieber’s surprise guest on the main stage, or Davido performing his own billed sets on another stage.
The clash has reignited uncomfortable conversations about privilege and success in the entertainment industry. At its core, the drama asks a question that resonates far beyond music: Does coming from wealth diminish your achievements? This debate has been central to Davido’s career, with critics often attributing his rise to the Adeleke family wealth. The resurfacing of a 2023 interview where Davido recounted using his celebrity status to arrange a meeting between his father and the World Bank president has only fueled this narrative. Erigga’s supporters argue that artists who “grind from the mud” deserve recognition for overcoming obstacles that wealthy artists never face. Davido’s defenders counter that money cannot buy talent or work ethic, and that he has proven himself through his music.
As of now, none of the three artists have backed down. The war of words continues to dominate Nigerian social media, with fans eagerly awaiting the next move. What is clear is that this feud—rooted in a decade of rivalry and fueled by questions of privilege, wealth, and talent—is far from over. And as the Afrobeats genre continues its global rise, so too will the competition between its biggest stars.