American business magnate, investor and philanthropist Bill Gates has caused a ripple on social media with his statement on Nigerian music sensations Burna Boy and Rema paired aside Wizkid and Davido.
The viral debate on who belongs to the ‘old cats’ and ‘new cats’ category reverberated through the media a week ago after afrobeats sensation David Adeleke Davido placed Rema and Burna Boy in the same category, labelling them ‘new cats’.
The debate ripped through fanbases, with fans of Burna, the African giant claiming that their idol had been sourly disrespected by Davido after categorising him with actual industry newbies like Rema, Mayorkun, fireboy and Joeboy.
Fans of the Common person singer noted that Burna’s career was in place around the period of industry mates Wizkid and Davido, even though he may not have gained as much footing as his counterparts, refusing the “new cat†label.
The conversation has now however seemed to have been brought back on social media by the comment of Bill Gates on his visit to Nigeria.
Netizens are claiming that the 67 year old billionaire has settled the argument once and for all.
In an interview, Gates revealed his daughter’s excitement as he headed out to visit Nigeria as it presented an opportunity to meet Rema and Burna Boy.
The business mogul then briefly reminisced on how it was Davido and Wizkid that performed during his last visit to the country.
“When my daughter Phoebe heard I was coming to Nigeria, she said, ‘You’re lucky because you get to see Burna Boy and Rema,’ so I had to look them up…because I’m so ‘hip’. But I remember the last time I was here, I got to see Davido & Wizkid perform,†he said in his interview.
An internet user @Omojuwa reacting, wrote: “Bill Gates is inadvertently fuelling the old cats and new cats debate. The only thing missing was that he didn’t use the word « cats ». Everything else here is on the agenda.â€
@attah_akor; “Bill gates indirectly called Burna boy a new cat.â€
@alexlobaloba; “Bill Gates just settled the new cats and old cats debate.â€