Year in and year out, new beefs form between musicians, and while some end well, some last for as long as they can. Which of these beefs do you recall?
Beefs in the music industry have been around for as long as music itself. And let’s be honest—African music beefs always bring drama, especially when two heavyweights go head-to-head. But what we love even more than the feuds? The reconciliations.
When artists finally bury the hatchet, it sometimes leads to legendary collaborations (though not always). Still, the fact that they settled is what truly matters.
Here are 10 African music beefs that started with tension but eventually ended on a good note.
1. Olamide and Don Jazzy
Remember the 2015 Headies Awards drama? Reekado Banks won the “Next Rated” award, and Olamide wasn’t having it. He stormed the stage, arguing that his artist, Lil Kesh, deserved the win. Later that night, Don Jazzy took a shot at Olamide during his acceptance speech, saying, “Egbon Olamide, if you want the car, come and collect it.” Olamide responded with a legendary Twitter rant, including the iconic phrase, “Leave trash for LAWMA.”
Thankfully, Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote intervened, and the two squashed their beef. Not long after, Olamide collaborated with Mavin’s Tiwa Savage on “Standing Ovation,” marking the end of the feud.
2. M.anifest and Sarkodie
The lyrical feud between Ghanaian rap heavyweights M.anifest and Sarkodie remains one of the most talked-about rap battles in African hip-hop history. In 2016, Sarkodie’s “Bossy” was met with a response from M.anifest’s “godMC,” triggering a back-and-forth that divided Ghanaian hip-hop fans. While the battle was intense, both artists later showed mutual respect, with Sarkodie acknowledging M.anifest’s artistry in interviews.
In 2022, they surprised fans with a collaboration on “Brown Paper Bag,” proving that lyrical competition doesn’t have to translate to personal animosity.
3. Odumodublvck and Prettyboy D-O
In early 2024, a cryptic Twitter rant from Odumodublvck sparked speculation about a hidden rivalry. He accused an unnamed artist of manipulating streaming numbers, which fans quickly linked to Prettyboy D-O. Prettyboy D-O, who had been instrumental in Odumodublvck’s rise, took offense, and the two exchanged heated words online.
At the center of it all was a misunderstanding about who had called whom a “clone.” But just when things seemed irreparable, a video surfaced showing Odumodublvck, Prettyboy D-O, and Native Records boss Teezee hanging out together—proving that the feud had been resolved behind closed doors. Their beef may have been short-lived, but it gave us one of social media’s most quotable phrases: “Nor be all this cho cho cho! Show working! Show working!”
4. BNXN and Ruger
The BNXN-Ruger rivalry started when Ruger implied that BNXN’s success depended on collaborations rather than solo hits. This kicked off a war of words on Twitter, with BNXN responding fiercely. Things took a more serious turn when BNXN won the ‘Next Rated’ award at the 2022 Headies, beating Ruger. He even threw a subtle jab during his acceptance speech, saying, “I love this boy.”
Fast forward to 2024, and in a plot twist no one saw coming, the two dropped a joint EP, RnB, putting their rivalry to rest with music.
5. Blackface and 2Baba
This is one of the longest-running feuds in Nigerian music. Blackface has repeatedly claimed that “African Queen”—2Baba’s biggest hit—was originally his song. He accused his former bandmate of profiting off his work without credit. Years of social media rants, diss tracks, and even legal threats followed. In 2019, 2Baba sued Blackface for defamation, demanding ₦50 million in damages.
Eventually, they reached an out-of-court settlement. Blackface agreed to stop his public attacks, while 2Baba promised to find a way for Blackface to earn royalties from the song.
6. Shatta Wale and Samini
Shatta Wale and Samini have one of the longest-standing rivalries in Ghana’s music industry, dating back to the early 2000s. Their feud was fueled by lyrical shots and public jabs, with both dancehall acts claiming supremacy. However, over time, the two reconciled, even performing together on stage in a historic moment of unity.
In 2021, they collaborated on “Celebration,” a song that symbolized their newfound peace and mutual respect.
7. Zlatan Ibile and DJ Cuppy
Zlatan Ibile and DJ Cuppy seemed like an unlikely pair to have a beef, but in 2021, things took a surprising turn when Zlatan blocked Cuppy on social media. When asked about it in an interview, he pretended not to know who she was, which only fueled speculation. It was later revealed that the fallout was due to money disputes over their song “Gelato.”
Cuppy later announced that they had settled their issues, and Zlatan even joined her on stage at his O2 concert to perform “Gelato” together.
8. M.I Abaga and Vector
Nigerian hip-hop fans witnessed a lyrical battle between two rap heavyweights—M.I Abaga and Vector. Their long-standing cold war erupted in 2019 when Vector dropped a scathing diss track aimed at M.I. This led to a back-and-forth of diss songs, and even a Hennessy-sponsored documentary “The Conversation” dissecting their feud.
In 2020, they finally met face-to-face to iron things out. Their peace was solidified when they collaborated on “Crown of Clay” in 2021 and later released “Spirit” together in 2022.
9. Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade
For years, rumors suggested a rivalry between Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, fueled by fan debates over who was the queen of Afrobeats. The two ended the speculation in 2019 when Yemi Alade brought Tiwa on stage for a heartfelt performance together.
10. AKA and Cassper Nyovest
The South African hip-hop industry was defined for years by the fierce rivalry between AKA and Cassper Nyovest. Their beef led to diss tracks, Twitter wars, and even near-physical altercations. However, before AKA’s tragic passing in 2023, there were signs of reconciliation.
Cassper paid tribute to AKA after his death with his song “Candlelight” acknowledging his influence on the game and expressing regret that they never had the chance to mend their relationship.
