Imagine three giants in a stadium, each ruling a corner, each admired for individual brilliance — but none stepping into the center together. That’s the current tension simmering in Afrobeats. Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy: each an icon, each with fans who believe a collaboration among them would be like the discovery of a lost treasure.
Yet the collaboration remains elusive — and Ubi Franklin is one of those asking: maybe it’s not just scheduling or strategy. Maybe the reality is darker, more rooted in rivalry and invisible walls.
Competition in Afrobeats is like electricity: it powers the industry, but also sparks vulnerability, jealousy, and narrative wars. And when three of its biggest stars stand at the peak, there’s less space for bridges than for spotlights.
Fans demand unity. Brands want the spectacle. But the business, the ego, the anticipation of who would shine brightest — these are powerful forces, often stronger than harmony.
During a recent episode of the Afropolitan podcast, Ubi Franklin didn’t shy away from the hard truth: it would be difficult for the Big Three to ever come together. Not because of personal hate, he says — but because the industry, the environment, the expectations all set them up as rivals first.
And in Nigeria’s music space, rivals rarely share stages, studios, or features without price — creatively, politically, or financially.
This isn’t about dissing anyone. It’s about understanding how Afrobeats has become more than sound—it’s competition, expectation, brand, turf. And sometimes those things matter more than the music.
Clarity on Rivalry
Ubi Franklin, a respected talent manager, said he has never heard Davido speak ill of Wizkid or Burna Boy — nor vice versa. He emphasizes the rivalry is not born from personal animosity, but from their positions as top tier artists.
He compared the Big Three to competing banks: all powerful, all similar, all constantly measuring each other. He said that in any industry, there are “Big 3”s — top entities whose dominance often requires keeping separation, maintaining distinct identity.
When “Impossible” Becomes Narrative
Ubi Franklin’s view doesn’t close the door. It highlights how industry structures, public expectations, and artistic identity often erect invisible walls. It forces us to consider: maybe the dream collab among Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy isn’t just about them showing up. It’s about shifting the environment around them — tearing down the rival narratives, adjusting the business realities, realigning incentives.
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So, while fans may continue to hope for a track with all three, the more pressing question is: do we want conditions where such a track would even make sense? Because until rivalry and artistry are balanced, “Big 3” dreams may remain just that: dreams.
