Nigerian music executive, Ubi Franklin, has shared his thoughts on why it might be difficult for Afrobeats’ “Big 3” — Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy — to collaborate on a project.

Speaking on the Afropolitan Podcast, Franklin explained that the competitive nature of the music industry often keeps top stars apart. He compared their rivalry to the stiff competition among Nigeria’s leading banks, noting that being at the top naturally creates a sense of competition rather than collaboration.

However, Franklin made it clear that the rivalry between the three Afrobeats giants isn’t personal. Using Davido as an example, he revealed that he has never heard the singer speak negatively about Wizkid or Burna Boy, and he believes the respect is mutual.

According to Franklin, the industry environment is what makes a joint project difficult:

“In every industry, there is a big three. For music, it’s Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy.”