10/04/2024
“Humility in Success: A Tale of Envy and Missteps in the Music Industry”
By
Felix Abayomi Dada
(HND-SLT/Biochemistry, B.Sc.- Biochemistry & Nutrition, M.Tech. -Applied Biochemistry, PhD- in view, will bag, at God’s chosen time)
Before “you”, the supporters come for me, let me candidly say that I am putting this together from the perspective of an academic, a musician, and someone who aspires to be great in life…
To start with, let me quickly relay a story of two friends, one was raised by an economically disadvantaged family, and the other in wealth/affluence (Please note, I never intended to downplay anyone here…. ) After years of struggle, the one raised from an underprivileged background eventually found fame and wealth. He was adored by many and seemed to have everything. However, his envy grew when he saw his friend, who came from a wealthy background, continuously achieving more success and recognition without the same struggle. Instead of focusing on his blessings and improving himself, he let jealousy consume him. The bitterness in the former, eventually led to his downfall, ending his once-bright career in shame and regret….(The full story will be for another day)
This story aligns with Wizkid and Davido ‘s uproar which has overwhelmed the social media space in the last couple of days. Wizkid had humble beginnings, fighting his way to the top of the music industry. Davido, on the other hand, was born into wealth but has managed to stay relevant by consistently releasing hit songs and maintaining his relationships in the industry. Instead of acknowledging Davido’s success, Wizkid has allowed pride and envy to fester. While Davido remains a global ambassador for major brands in the world like Puma, Infinix, Pepsi, TravelBeta, Martell, etc. Meanwhile, Wizkid is stuck in a cycle of bitterness, bullying, and social media insults.
I laughed when I read various comments on social media platforms that Wizkid is bigger than the money PUMA was pricing him with…, are you serious at all? …as in are you playing? Do you guys know the net worth of PUMA? Wizkid is bigger than a brand that its net worth is estimated to be around $9.2 billion? (You may fact-check me….in Reno’s voice, lolz).
Come here, let me tell you something, you see, in showbiz, it’s not always about collecting huge sums of money. Sometimes, taking smaller gigs and staying connected with your audience is what keeps you relevant. This reminds me of my secondary school’s motto which says, “Ex parvo magnus” which simply means “Out of little, comes much”. This emphasizes how small efforts or resources can lead to significant achievements over time. Davido has mastered this, which is why his career keeps soaring. Wizkid, however, with his refusal to accept smaller payments, has distanced himself from opportunities, making his lack of recent hits even more glaring. He needs to understand that “pride comes before a fall,” and his arrogance is only isolating him from the success he once enjoyed.
Now Mr. Ibro, let me advise you, you need to retrace your steps before frustration and jealousy completely take over. History shows that envy only destroys those who harbor it. Instead of wasting time being jealous of Davido’s achievements, please focus on your craft and recognize that Davido’s blessings are divinely given. As the saying goes, “Whom the gods have blessed, no man can curse.” A little humility could go a long way in helping you regain your footing in the industry.
And eyin Wizkid’s followers ti e n continue lati maa encourage this negativity, e sun mo bi, you see, it’s time you guys wake up and stop feeding into the unnecessary beef. Supporting an artist means guiding him toward growth, not cheering him on toward their downfall. Unnecessary hatred towards Davido won’t elevate Wizkid’s career. It’s time for maturity and reasoning, bitterness and envy have never built a legacy. Even the scripture proclaims it in the book of proverbs14:30 which says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." It emphasizes that envy can lead to inner turmoil and destruction, while a peaceful heart promotes life and well-being. Hence, let’s focus on building each other up, not tearing others down.
In conclusion and in all honesty, you guys need to realize that blindly supporting cynicism and pessimism does more harm than good. Instead of cheering him on as he takes aim at Davido, you should be encouraging him to focus on his music and career. By pushing him to continue this senseless beef, you’re only fueling his frustration and setting him up for a bigger fall. It’s time for you, his fans, to grow up, get some sense of reasoning, and stop being dogmatic. Defending unnecessary displays of babyish and imbecilic attitudes on all social media spaces will not help your favorite’s career, and if care is not taken, you all will be the ones standing by as he falls into irrelevance, regretting that you never guided him back to the right path.
