..Rules Out Reconciliation with Wizkid, Calls Rift Permanent
Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has alleged that he has been sidelined within the Nigerian music industry for over a decade, attributing the situation to the political nature of his music and its alignment with protest traditions inherited from his father, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Saleh Meditate Podcast, the singer argued that his brand of socially conscious music has long placed him at odds with institutional structures that, according to him, prefer less politically charged content.
“The impact of Fela and his contemporaries who spoke truth to power scared the government. They made the government realise the power of artistry. So, the government invested more in artists who don’t make conscious music than artists who sing about realities,” he said.
Kuti claimed that this alleged marginalisation began years ago and intensified after a performance at a Lagos State government event during the administration of former governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
“I have been cancelled for about 13 years now after I performed conscious music at former Lagos State Governor Ambode’s event. Even before then, my music was heavily restricted,” he said.
Despite the claims, the singer insisted that the situation has had little impact on his career trajectory, arguing that his audience extends far beyond Nigeria.
“When I am in Nigeria, I don’t fear to say whatever I want to say. That is a lot of people are saying that I should be cancelled. I have been cancelled for long. Nigeria has cancelled me long time but Nigeria is just like a really small percentage of my market. So, being cancelled doesn’t really affect me.”
He further suggested that artists who fear exclusion or backlash from the industry are often those whose success depends heavily on local acceptance.
..Rules Out Reconciliation with Wizkid, Calls Rift Permanent
Kuti also addressed his long-standing rift with Afrobeats superstar Wizkid, making it clear that reconciliation is not on the table.
The dispute traces back to public comments in which Wizkid reportedly reacted to comparisons between himself and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, prompting criticism from Seun Kuti, who viewed the remarks as disrespectful to his father’s legacy.
Asked on the podcast whether the disagreement had been resolved, he responded firmly: “It is on for life. I don’t have anything to say about him but it is on for life. You don’t say things about my dad and then it is fine. There is no coming back from that.”
The comments add another layer to an already well-documented tension between both artistes, reflecting deeper generational and ideological divides within Nigeria’s contemporary music scene, particularly between mainstream Afrobeats and politically conscious Afrobeat traditions.