Bahati vs. Willy Paul: A Timeline

This past weekend marked a surprising and significant turn in the years-long, on-again, off-again feud between Bahati and Willy Paul.

The reconciliation came after Willy Paul, also known as Pozze, extended a heartfelt apology to Bahati and his wife, Diana Marua.

The apology addressed past actions that had caused tension between the two former gospel musicians.

The relationship between Bahati and Willy Paul has long been marked by camaraderie, competition, and controversy.

Let’s delve deeper into the history of their tumultuous connection below:

2014: The Rise of Two Gospel Stars

Bahati and Willy Paul emerged as leading figures in Kenya’s gospel music industry, captivating audiences with hits like Bahati’s Mama and Willy Paul’s Sitolia.

While their talent earned them admiration, fans and critics often pitted them against each other, sparking early signs of rivalry.

2016: The “Copycat” Accusations

The rivalry intensified when Willy Paul accused Bahati of copying his music style and stealing the spotlight during events.

Bahati, in turn, subtly shaded Willy Paul in interviews, leading to widespread speculation about their strained relationship.

2017: Public Feuds and Social Media Drama

Their rivalry hit a peak in 2017 when the two exchanged barbs on social media.

Willy Paul accused Bahati of sabotaging his career by manipulating gospel music platforms, while Bahati claimed Willy Paul was not a genuine gospel artist.

The drama played out publicly, dividing fans and igniting heated debates online.

2018: Shifts in Genre and Accusations of Betrayal

Both artists began shifting away from gospel to explore secular music, further fueling their competition.

Willy accused Bahati of hypocrisy for criticizing his transition while making a similar move.

Bahati, on the other hand, accused Willy Paul of being disloyal, referring to their fallout as a betrayal of their shared gospel roots.

2020: Reconciliation on Instagram Live

In a surprising turn of events, Bahati and Willy Paul appeared on an Instagram Live session together in 2020, where they attempted to bury the hatchet.

The session was filled with laughter and nostalgia, and the two reminisced about their early careers.

2021: A Renewed Feud Over Performance Rankings

Despite their 2020 reconciliation, tensions resurfaced in 2021 when Willy Paul criticized Bahati’s ranking as one of Kenya’s top artists.

He claimed that he had a more significant impact on the music industry and deserved more recognition. Bahati fired back, questioning Willy’s consistency and authenticity as an artist.

December 2021: Diana Marua accuses Willy

The conflict took an even uglier turn when Diana Marua, Bahati''s wife posted a video on YouTube accusing Willy Paul of attempting to sexually assault her a few years back.

Willy immediately denied the accusations, calling them false and damaging to his reputation.

He claimed Diana was fabricating the story for clout and to tarnish his image.

Willy threatened legal action, accusing Diana of defamation and warning her against spreading falsehoods.

He later sued Diana Marua for defamation, demanding compensation for the damage to his reputation and career.

He maintained his innocence and submitted evidence, including text messages, to discredit Diana’s claims.

The accusation came at a time when Willy Paul was promoting his new album which had the curiously titled song, Diana, with seeing it at the time as a double entrendre intended at Bahati.

During the back and forth, Bahati stood firmly by his wife, Diana.

2023: Bahati’s Allegation of Career Sabotage

In a candid interview in 2023, Bahati accused Willy Paul of attempting to sabotage his career multiple times, including spreading false rumours and undermining his achievements.

Willy Paul responded by accusing Bahati of playing the victim and leveraging their rivalry for publicity.

2024 and going forward

As they have now settled their differences let us hope that they can finally collaborate on a song together, something that fans have demanded for such a long time.