In a video shared on Thursday, the activist argued that Nigeria appears to be “the only country in the world that does not have music legends,” blaming the trend on a mindset that quickly dismisses veteran artistes as “past glory.” According to him, this attitude has been amplified by social media fan wars and generational clashes.
Drawing comparisons with other countries, Very Dark Man noted that the United States continues to celebrate figures like Dr. Dre, while Jamaica upholds dancehall icons such as Beenie Man. He added that reggae legends including Bob Marley and Lucky Dube remain widely revered across the world, regardless of age or changing musical trends.
He accused Nigerian social media users of routinely attacking pioneers whenever they express opinions, listing artistes such as Eldee the Don, African China, Plantashun Boiz, Psquare, Remedies, Tony Tetuila, Jazzman Olofin, 9ice, Vector, Sasha P, Asa, Weird MC, 2Face Idibia and Blackface as examples of musicians who have faced online ridicule.
According to him, the criticism of elders in the industry reflects a broader erasure of musical history driven by blind loyalty to current stars.
Very Dark Man said his comments were prompted by the ongoing online dispute involving Wizkid and members of the Kuti family, including Seun Kuti. While stressing that he has no personal issues with either party, he criticised Wizkid’s social media response to Seun, arguing that it indirectly encouraged fans to insult the late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
He warned that the backlash went beyond a personal disagreement, opening the door for younger fans to question Fela’s relevance and legacy in Nigerian music and global culture.
Addressing claims that Wizkid’s Grammy win places him above Fela Kuti, Very Dark Man rejected the comparison. He pointed out that Wizkid’s Grammy came from his feature on Brown Skin Girl by Beyoncé, which won Best Music Video, and argued that the award was largely driven by Beyoncé’s global influence.
To reinforce his position, he referenced Beyoncé’s past tributes to Fela, including her performance of Zombie, and interviews in which she described Fela as a major artistic inspiration. He also noted that Zombie was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2025, describing it as further evidence of Fela’s lasting global impact.
He contrasted Wizkid’s win with Grammy awards earned by Burna Boy for Twice As Tall and by Tems for her work, arguing that those honours reflected individual artistic achievements rather than collaborative recognition.
Very Dark Man also defended Fela Kuti against recurring criticism of his personal life, questioning why historical figures such as King Solomon continue to be revered despite similar controversies. According to him, personal flaws should not erase cultural significance or artistic contribution.