Veteran Nigerian singer and rapper Seyi Sodimu has described Wande Coal as the most talented artist in the country’s Afrobeats scene.
Speaking in a recent interview with comedian and media personality Teju Babyface, Sodimu credited Wande Coal with playing a pivotal role in shaping the modern Afrobeats sound and influencing some of its biggest stars.
According to him, Wande Coal’s style helped usher in a new generation of Afrobeats music, leaving a lasting impact on artists such as Wizkid, Davido, and Sean Tizzle. “Wande Coal was one of the pivotal moments where he switched it [Afrobeats] to the new generation where he influenced people like Wizkid, Davido, Sean Tizzle. It was Wande Coal’s style that took Afrobeats to a new sound. I think he is the most-talented Nigerian Afrobeats artist,” Sodimu said.
When asked whether Wande Coal is receiving the recognition he deserves, Sodimu questioned the measure of such acknowledgment. “What do you mean by flowers, are you talking about streams? Because people love Wande Coal when they hear his music. So it’s in context. Any artist you ask, if you meet any of them, even Burna Boy can attest to Wande Coal’s artistry,” he stated.
Sodimu further remarked that Wande Coal has yet to reach his full potential. “I’m older than Wande Coal and I know he’s actually operating on 30% and he is still kicking ass. So, imagine if he was operating on 78%. Wande is a genius. He can sing, he also writes. He is amazing,” he added.
Wande Coal, known for his distinctive voice, songwriting skills, and genre-blending style, has remained a key figure in Afrobeats since his breakout in the late 2000s. His influence, according to Sodimu, extends beyond his own music to the evolution of the sound that has taken Nigerian music to global stages.
