The exchange began during a recent Instagram Live session when a Wizkid fan urged Seun Kuti to drop the nickname, arguing that Wizkid is the “Biggest Bird.” Seun rejected the request, maintaining that he has used the name long before it became associated with the Afrobeats star.
According to Seun, the issue goes beyond fandom rivalry and touches on originality and respect. He accused Wizkid of adopting a nickname that was already in use and questioned why he should be asked to change his identity to accommodate another artist’s fan base. He stressed that the name has been part of his public persona for years and that he has no intention of relinquishing it.
The singer also directed criticism at members of Wizkid’s team, including DJ Tunez, over what he described as their silence in the face of repeated comparisons between Wizkid and his late father, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Seun argued that by failing to shut down such narratives, Wizkid’s camp indirectly encourages fans to draw what he considers inappropriate parallels between the two musicians.
He further used the moment to underscore the enduring impact of Fela’s legacy, revealing that he recently received about $120,000 purely as a result of being Fela’s son. Seun said the payment was not tied to his own work but to his father’s influence, describing it as evidence that Fela’s legacy continues to yield tangible benefits decades after his death.
In an emotional tone, Seun challenged critics and fans alike to understand the weight of Fela’s accomplishments, stating that not many families can point to a legacy that continues to generate value long after a patriarch’s passing. He emphasised that his remarks were not an attack on Wizkid personally, but a response to fans who, in his view, repeatedly drag Fela’s name into online arguments and music-related disputes.
Seun also rejected the idea of Wizkid being described as a “New Fela,” arguing that his father’s cultural, political and musical legacy is unique and cannot be replicated or casually compared. He called on Wizkid fans to refrain from invoking Fela’s name in fan wars and to show greater respect for history.
Taking his criticism further, Seun challenged Wizkid’s fan base to channel their energy into something constructive rather than online confrontations. He suggested that if the singer’s fans truly number in the millions, they could pool modest contributions to fund a public project, such as building a school in Surulere in Wizkid’s name, instead of engaging in insults and social media feuds.
The comments have since sparked widespread reactions online, reigniting conversations around fan culture, artistic identity and the enduring influence of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in Nigeria’s music and cultural discourse.