I get messages about this question every single week: who are the big three of Afrobeats? Fans want a simple list, but the truth is heavier than a tweet. In this long-form piece I put my view on the table, explain why these three names keep coming up in every serious conversation about Nigerian music, and show you exactly what each one contributes to the culture. This isn’t a fan rant — it’s a breakdown for people who care about careers, influence, sound and legacy.
Who are the big 3 Afrobeats?
The big 3 of Afrobeats are Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy. These three artists have done more than dominate charts; they changed how African music is perceived globally, built sustainable careers, and created templates younger artists copy. This article explains why they are the big three, where they differ and where they overlap. If you want more context after this, read the full roster of artists at full list of Afrobeats artists in Nigeria, or check my deep dive on who the best Afrobeats singer is at who is the best afrobeats singer in nigeria, and my take on who the biggest artist is at who is the biggest afrobeats artist.
Why the phrase “big 3” matters
Calling any three artists “the big 3” does more than flatter their egos. It points to structural power in the industry. When I say the big three, I mean the set of artists who consistently shape trends, move industry money, sell out large venues, and create cultural moments that ripple across Africa and beyond. These are the names labels, playlists and festival bookers notice first. They are the ones who make markets open or close for other artists.
How I judge “big”
Before we name the three, let me be clear about what “big” actually means for me. This is not just about social media followers or a single viral moment. I use a combination of the following signals:
- Career longevity and consistency: Can this artist deliver hit records and maintain relevance across years?
- Global reach: Do they headline international festivals, collaborate with global stars and appear on world playlists?
- Commercial power: Are their releases major streaming events and do they open doors for business deals and brand partnerships?
- Cultural influence: Do they shape fashion, language, trends and the sound other artists copy?
- Live performance gravity: Can they sell large venues and command a stage in a way that turns a local show into a global talking point?
Using those markers, three names keep appearing. I’ll unpack each one below and explain the exact ways they hold the crown.
Wizkid — the bridge builder
When I talk about Wizkid, I always start with his voice. He has a unique vocal texture — a smooth, airy, effortless delivery that makes anything he touches feel effortless. But beyond tone, he became a bridge: someone who moved Afrobeats from regional popularity to a global audience without losing the core feel.
Why Wizkid is a pillar of the big three:
- Early global collaborations: strategic features that placed him on world maps and playlists.
- Catalogue versatility: from slow jams to stadium anthems, he fits multiple moods while keeping his identity intact.
- Brand credibility: he has been a gateway artist for many fans who discovered Afrobeats through his music.
- Mentorship and influence: younger artists borrow his cadence, his melody shapes and even aesthetic choices.
Wizkid’s role in the triad is the connector. He represents the slick, pop-leaning side of Afrobeats that travels easily into mainstream pop. If you want to study how an artist takes a sound global without completely changing it, study his releases, collabs and the way he curates features.
Davido — the hit machine
Davido is the energy. When I say he’s one of the “big 3”, I point to his ability to turn almost any record into a sing-along hit. Davido’s strength is melody and timing — he knows when to push a hook to the edge of saturation and still keep it fresh.
Why Davido is a pillar of the big three:
- Unbeatable hit instinct: he understands melody and rhythm in a way that produces immediate crowd response.
- Stage charisma: his live shows are kinetic and emotionally connected — he gives fans moments they remember.
- Fan engagement: his fanbase is loyal, vocal, and mobilised; that intensity moves markets.
- Collaborative strategy: features and key partnerships often expand his reach into new territories quickly.
Davido’s role is the engine. When the conversation is about playlist domination, radio saturation and festival energy, Davido’s name is the first to drop. Artists who want to build a mainstream pop persona study his release cadence and promotional tactics closely.
Burna Boy — the global headline artist
Burna Boy is the artist who took Afrobeats into critical spaces globally. He’s the one who blurred the lines between Afrobeats, alternative, and global pop, and did so with an uncompromising identity. Burna’s music carries a sense of place and history, and he turned that into global artistic currency.
Why Burna Boy is a pillar of the big three:
- Critical acclaim: he brought Afrobeats into award circuits and critical conversations that previously ignored African pop.
- Consistent touring: he headlines festivals and arenas, and his live shows are often cited as transformative experiences.
- Sonic experimentation: he blends genres without losing the African core, and that experimental edge attracts different audiences.
- Cultural storytelling: his records often carry a narrative about identity and place, giving Afrobeats lyrical depth.
Burna’s role is the conscience and artist-first movement of the triad. He raised the bar for artistry in Afrobeats and reminded the industry that global success can come with depth and political awareness.
How they differ and why that matters
One of the reasons the big 3 concept works is because these three artists don’t do the exact same thing. They overlap, but they have distinct territories:
- Wizkid is the melodic bridge to pop and global R&B audiences.
- Davido is the pop hitmaker who commands mass commercial appeal.
- Burna Boy is the boundary-pushing global artist who brings critical attention and artistic depth.
Because they occupy different strengths, they collectively secure Afrobeats a place across multiple global music markets. If one is trending on pop radio, another may be headlining a festival in Europe, while the third is getting critical awards and long-form features. Together they give Afrobeats range.
What their rivalry and collaboration does for the scene
Fans love rivalry, but the real magic for the scene is what their careers create: attention, investment and infrastructure. When any of the three drops a major project, labels pay attention, streaming platforms create editorial support, and festival bookers update budgets. Rivalry translates to visibility and sometimes better deals for other artists. Collaboration between top artists cranks streams, and even friendly competition pushes them to keep improving, which raises standards across the board.
Challenging the “big 3” — legitimate counter-arguments
There are good reasons to question whether the idea of a fixed “big 3” makes sense forever. Some arguments I hear often:
- The scene is crowded: new artists break faster now. The next decade could have more than three dominant names.
- Regional stars matter: artists who dominate Nigerian streams might be different from those who dominate the global stage.
- Artist cycles change: a career dip or a new mega breakout could disrupt the balance quickly.
These points are valid. The “big 3” is descriptive for a period where three artists happen to dominate multiple signals simultaneously. It is not a permanent licence or a shrine — it’s an observation of power distribution at scale.
How the big 3 affect younger artists
If you’re an upcoming artist, understanding the big three is a lesson in strategy. They show you three distinct playbooks:
- Wizkid’s playbook: cultivate a unique vocal identity, choose international features carefully and build an aesthetic.
- Davido’s playbook: focus on melodic hooks, audience connection and high-energy visuals.
- Burna Boy’s playbook: develop a consistent artistic voice, experiment sonically and pursue long-term cultural relevance.
Pick which model aligns with your strengths, then adapt it to your story. You don’t need to copy everything — take lessons and make them yours.
The business angle — why labels and brands care
From an executive perspective, the big three are safe investment points. Brands use their reach to launch campaigns quickly. Labels leverage their presence to build sub-label initiatives and partnership networks. When the big three support an emerging artist, it often accelerates that artist’s career in ways that would otherwise take years. That ripple effect builds entire ecosystems—management firms, touring circuits and media platforms that then support the next wave.
Case studies — moments that defined each of them
I study moments, because careers are a sum of key moves. Here are the kinds of moments I believe defined each of them:
- Wizkid: the collaborations that introduced Afrobeats to Western pop listeners and the consistent catalogue of cross-border singles.
- Davido: the stadium-level hits and fan mobilisation moments that turned singles into national events.
- Burna Boy: the albums and festival performances that made critics and tastemakers pay attention to Afrobeats as an artistic movement.
These moments matter because they changed where Afrobeats sits in the global music conversation.
Does being “big” mean being the “best”?
No. Big is about reach and influence. Best is subjective and depends on what you value — voice, lyricism, live performance, cultural depth or commerciality. If you want to explore who the best singer is, I wrote a long piece that breaks it down by vocal and artistic criteria: who is the best affrobeats singer in nigeria. If you want to know who is the biggest by other business metrics, check my piece on the biggest Afrobeats artist: who is the biggest afrobeats artist.
How long will the big three remain the big three?
That depends on what each of them does next. Music is cyclical and attention is fluid. The big three will remain influential as long as they continue to release strong work, keep engaging fans and maintain relevance across platforms. If one of them slows down or another artist produces a global-scale run, the conversation will change. For now, their combined presence still steadies the industry in meaningful ways.
What fans should watch for next
If you follow Afrobeats like I do, watch these things closely:
- how they release music (surprise drops vs long lead campaigns),
- their collaborations (who they bring on a track and why),
- festival bookings and headline runs, and
- how they invest in local talent through labels or collectives.
Those moves will hint at who is preparing for the next phase of dominance.
Final thoughts — the power of three
The “big 3” label is a simple way to explain a complicated reality. Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy cover a lot of ground between them: melody, commercial energy, artistic depth and global influence. They made Afrobeats a household name in many places where it used to be niche. When I talk to artists, managers and labels, everyone recognises that those three have built pathways that make new careers possible.
If you want to explore the broader cast that fills those pathways, visit my full roster: full list of Afrobeats artists in Nigeria. If you want a deeper debate about “best” and “biggest”, the linked pieces will help you argue your position with facts and context: who is the best afrobeats singer in nigeria and who is the biggest afrobeats artist.
