Davido Tells Cubana Chief Priest to Steer Clear of Wizkid–Burna Boy Online Feud

Davido Tells Cubana Chief Priest to Steer Clear of Wizkid–Burna Boy Online Feud

Nigeria’s music community was thrust once again into an intense moment of public drama this week as internationally acclaimed singer David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, issued a clear warning to his close associate Pascal Okechukwu, popularly referred to as Cubana Chief Priest, urging him to refrain from commenting on the ongoing online feud between fellow Afrobeats giants Wizkid and Burna Boy. The incident underscores how deeply personal tensions among some of Nigeria’s biggest stars have become entangled with social media discourse, affecting their broader reputations and fan communities.

The flashpoint that triggered Davido’s cautionary message this week stems from a chain of social media exchanges linked to a widely shared incident in Lagos involving Grammy‑winning artist Burna Boy and DJ Tunez, who is closely associated with Wizkid. Viral clips circulating online captured a physical confrontation between Burna Boy and DJ Tunez at a private party, with multiple attendees and spectators sharing fragments of the altercation across platforms. In the aftermath, the Nigerian DJ Association announced a temporary ban on playing Burna Boy’s songs in playlists while it investigates the matter and weighs professional standards in the industry.

Following the incident, tensions between Wizkid and Burna Boy escalated sharply online. Wizkid took to his social media account to condemn what he framed as aggressive behaviour linked to the situation and delivered a pointed rebuke that quickly went viral. The sharpness of his language — widely circulated and replayed across social apps — deepened the sense of an unfolding dispute between two of Nigeria’s most prominent artists.

Amid those developments, Cubana Chief Priest weighed in with commentary that appeared to poke fun at Burna Boy’s reaction to the conflict, referencing a playful but widely shared meme about a “Diddy towel,” which had become part of the back‑and‑forth commentary. In posts on his personal account, the socialite joked about not realising there was a “towel” after the so‑called “oil,” a remark that spread rapidly and attracted mixed reactions from fans, with some seeing humour and others criticising him for stoking rivalry.

Davido, who has a longstanding personal relationship with Cubana Chief Priest and is one of Nigeria’s most influential performers, responded firmly. In a public message that was later deleted, he told Chief Priest to disengage from the dispute, bluntly urging him to “free this matter” and stay out of the escalating social media exchanges. The singer’s intervention reflects concern that involvement in the feud could distract from artistic priorities and potentially harm longstanding professional relationships within the industry.

Analysts say Davido’s message signals a desire for stability and a degree of separation from what has become one of the most heated public disagreements in recent memory within the Afrobeats scene. While rivalries are not uncommon in global music cultures, the intensity surrounding this particular dispute has drawn significant attention, with fans, commentators and industry figures all weighing in. For some observers, Davido’s move represents a call for discipline and caution amid a dispute that has grown far beyond its original spark.

The roots of the current tension trace back to the April incident involving Burna Boy and DJ Tunez. Multiple sources indicate that a verbal disagreement between the artist and the DJ at a Lagos venue escalated into a physical confrontation. DJ Tunez, known for his longstanding collaboration with Wizkid, later posted cryptic remarks on social media that added fuel to the fire, describing the encounter and implicitly criticising Burna Boy’s conduct. Wizkid’s subsequent response on his official platform amplified the dispute, turning it into a broader conversation about loyalty, professionalism and interpersonal conflict among top Nigerian artists.

While neither Wizkid nor Burna Boy has issued formal statements aimed at reconciliation, reactions from various corners of the music ecosystem have varied widely. Some fans have taken sides, championing one artist over the other, while others have expressed fatigue at the extended digital sparring. Industry professionals have noted that such feuds, especially when played out so publicly, risk overshadowing artistic achievements and undermining efforts to promote Nigerian music on the global stage.

Wizkid, who has had a long and celebrated career, is known for chart‑topping hits and collaborations with global artists and has cultivated a reputation as a leading figure in contemporary African music. Burna Boy, equally acclaimed and commercially successful, has earned multiple accolades and toured extensively, solidifying his position as one of the continent’s most visible cultural ambassadors. The fact that their exchange has captured widespread attention speaks to their stature but also to the challenges that arise when personal disagreements intersect with the unrelenting immediacy of social media platforms.

Cubana Chief Priest himself is no stranger to public controversy. Beyond this week’s commentary on the Wizkid–Burna Boy situation, he has previously drawn criticism for comments on other industry moments, including remarks about Grammy outcomes that some saw as divisive. His standing as a prominent socialite and influencer has given him a large platform, but his involvement in disputes involving major artists has occasionally attracted backlash from fans and industry watchers alike.

Davido’s call for restraint comes at a time when the broader Nigerian music scene is navigating both increased global popularity and heightened scrutiny from international audiences. Some industry figures argue that unity and professionalism are essential to sustaining the momentum Afrobeats has achieved worldwide. Echoes of past international music rivalries — such as historical conflicts in other genres that at times escalated into violence — serve as cautionary tales about the potential consequences of unchecked feuds.

For his part, Burna Boy has maintained a presence online following the incident with DJ Tunez but has not publicly engaged with Davido’s plea or issued an olive branch toward Wizkid. His career has long been marked by both artistic acclaim and occasional controversy, and his fans remain fiercely loyal. Meanwhile, Wizkid’s decisive social media response to the Lagos altercation has drawn equal numbers of supporters and critics, illustrating the polarising nature of online discourse surrounding the event.

As conversations continue across social media and in entertainment circles, the industry faces choices about how such disputes are managed moving forward. Davido’s intervention, by urging a respected associate to step back from further commentary, may be a sign of a broader desire among some artists to prioritise professional respect and focus on their craft over escalating personal conflicts. Whether this appeal will influence the course of interactions among these influential figures remains to be seen.

In the meantime, stakeholders within Nigerian and African music will be watching closely to see whether cooler heads prevail or whether the digital debate intensifies further, with implications not just for those directly involved but for the cultural narrative surrounding the continent’s most influential musical export.

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