For this writer, this is a topic that he will most certainly not touch with a long pole; I try to abstain from anything remotely related to fave loyalty, a trend that is fast growing with the use and rise of social media and the Internet. The reason I dislike topics about loyalty is that it clouds judgement; people tend to get on the defensive when their favorite music acts are brought to the table, to be dissected and reviewed and Wizkid FC is a good example.
People find discussions when their favorite musicians are not been applauded, distasteful and will go to any length to swear that their favorite is the world best. For example, in reviewing Olamide’s 999 EP album, I wrote that the album was a poor craft and yes, my mailbox received a lot of angry Olamide’s favorites, claiming that I had poor taste in rap and the album was more than a dying man clinging on to straws for survival.
Yesterday, social media and particularly Twitter was ablaze as Nigerian superstar, Wizkid went head to head with Jamaican king, Vybz Kartel in a ten-ten song competition. Needless to say that it was not a competition, because Wizkid thrashed Kartel in a 10 – 0 win; something that any reasonable person would have known was going to be an effortless win.
LET US KNOW YOUR PERSONAL OPINION WITH THIS GRAPHIC #NS10v10 pic.twitter.com/yi1tPWSSkb
— No Signal (@theresnosignall) May 3, 2020
The concept of an FC is not new. It has only been pushed forward by this age of social media and Wizkid FC are making and milking it off. It is an offshoot of the Stan culture, a concept that is becoming popular with Pop culture. The members of the FC are young, generation Z who spend a good deal of their time floating through the Internet waters and crevices. For some, their playlist does not go beyond Afrobeats songs and other tracks (genre) from Nigerian artiste.
In the view of this writer, there is currently no artiste in Nigeria who has the same power as Wizkid FC. The team will take on anyone who speaks ill of their idol, Wizkid. Ask Brymo how his mentions were on fire the day he described himself as the greatest artiste in Nigeria. Ask Davido how for every move he makes, he is reminded that the Starboy is greater than him.
Growing up, I used to have a female friend who would cry whenever we spoke ill of Michael Jackson and another who would flare up when we critiqued Justin Bieber. This was my first time of ever coming across this kind of behavior and currently in Nigeria, there are folks out there who would die for Ayo Balogun, popularly referred to as Wizkid.
And the idea of a Wizkid FC is not relatively new. It has been since I daresay 2018. I remember seeing a post on Facebook, four guys clad in black shirts with the caption Wizkid FC. It was further solidified after Nike launched the artiste’s merchandise line. That finally created and cemented the Wizkid FC’s place in a world of music and fan loyalty.
However, we must ask, what is there not to stan about Wizkid? In an edition of Soundcity Africa’s Rox, host, VJ Adams had said that the Starboy is the picture of Afrobeats in the world and this is a story that cannot be denied, a lasting truth. As his music counterparts, Davido and Burna Boy, push their craft, the Starboy has shown that he has music range.
From his Holla at your boy days, he has grown to a Joro standard. He brings an undeniable, unmatched energy on every song. And he does it effortlessly, without the hint of a struggle.
However, in the view of this writer, while Stan culture and celebrity loyalty will always be present, it should not be encouraged. It has its advantages though. It provides support to the entertainer and lets him/her know that their craft is carried and appreciated. The team is often dependable and can be called upon any day and anytime, without fear of their not showing up.
They are also a veritable tool and a great instrument for promotion. These days when influencers need to be paid for promotion, a fan base saves one the penny as they can do this without any payment.
Read more:Â African Giant Burna Boy Begs Starboy Wizkid To Please Drop An Album
However, at the foundation of every FC that rises, there is that factor we all love to deny, toxicity. Rationality is a word that does not exist in their vocabulary and criticism is something they do not take too lightly. They see criticism as hate and will go out of their way to rip your head off if you do critique their idol.
Also, their Starboy is the biggest thing to come out of Nigeria, Africa and the world as a whole. His voice is better than Whitney Houston, his songwriting skills are greater than J.Cole. For them, his Afrobeat is also better than Fela. He can do no wrong, and even when he does, he must not be called out.
It also makes them blind to the struggles of other artistes. Davido is perhaps the artiste who is always at the brunt of the attacks, that only recently he had to scream on Twitter that although he loves Wizkid, he doesn’t give a damn what his FC thinks.
However, at the heart of loyalty is toxicity, which cannot be excused. Wizkid FC loves him and that is undeniable, but an analysis of that love and loyalty might be important before his FC turns into negativity.
Photo Credit: Instagram
