Konga Slams New-Gen Artists Over Neglect of Nigerian Music Legends

|By Queen Banigo

Veteran Nigerian singer Konga has criticised the current generation of artists for what he described as a lack of support for pioneers of the music industry.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Hits Don’t Lie podcast, the “Kabakaba” crooner argued that younger stars have failed to uplift industry veterans who laid the foundation for their success.

Konga specifically referenced Davido’s widely publicised 2021 birthday donations, where the singer received about N200 million from friends and fans, added N50 million of his own money, and donated the total sum to orphanages across Nigeria.

While acknowledging the charitable gesture, Konga insisted the funds could have been used to revive the careers of struggling music legends.

“The present crop of Nigerian artists need to humble themselves,” he said. “Nobody is dragging their money with them, but peer pressure has pushed many legends into doing menial jobs abroad.”

He suggested that the funds could have been distributed among veteran musicians, including Daddy Showkey and Baba Fryo, to help them stage comebacks and re-enter the spotlight.

According to him, such support would have reawakened the industry and inspired legendary acts to release new hit songs.

Konga also lamented the fading recognition of older artists, citing Lord of Ajasa as an example of a pioneer whose contributions are being overlooked.

He further pushed back against narratives that elevate current stars above past icons, noting that Nigerian artists had long achieved international success before the current wave.

Referencing legends such as Fela Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Majek Fashek, Konga stressed that global tours and international recognition were not new to Nigerian music.

“You guys are only taking it forward from where we stopped,” he said, adding that the lack of proper documentation in earlier years should not diminish the achievements of past generations.