Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has launched a scathing attack on the fanbase of global superstar Wizkid, condemning their persistent efforts to draw parallels between the 'Ojuelegba' crooner and his late father, the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
A Heated Condemnation of Forced Comparisons
In a fiery five-minute video clip, Seun Kuti directly addressed members of Wizkid FC, the singer's ardent fanbase. He expressed profound frustration over what he described as a continuous and disrespectful campaign to label Wizkid as 'the new Fela.' The 'Big Bird' singer insisted that such assertions are not only factually incorrect but represent a deep-seated insult to the memory and monumental legacy of the Afrobeat pioneer.
Seun accused the fans of attempting to 'steal' his father's image, ideology, and cultural impact merely to elevate Wizkid's status. He argued that Fela's legacy, built on relentless political activism, immense personal sacrifice, and revolutionary music, cannot be simplistically transferred or inherited by any contemporary artist based on commercial success or global fame alone.
Seun Kuti's Blunt Message to Wizkid FC
The musician did not mince words in his direct address to the fanbase. He was quoted in the video stating emphatically: 'Wizkid fc needs to keep Fela's name out of their mouth. You people try to steal the man image. You try to claim your fake artist is the new Fela. It's an insult to Fela to call Wizkid the new Fela.'
He went further to label Wizkid FC as 'the most ignorant fanbase in the world,' highlighting his view that the comparisons stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of who Fela was and what he stood for. For Seun, the issue transcends music; it is about the appropriation of a radical political and cultural legacy that defined an era of resistance in Nigeria.
Fan Reactions and Counter-Narratives
Following the release of the video, reactions flooded social media, creating a sharp divide. While some users supported Seun Kuti's stance on preserving historical context, others, particularly Wizkid's supporters, pushed back strongly.
Many fans countered that the era of actively calling Wizkid 'the new Fela' has long passed. They pointed to Wizkid's unprecedented global achievements, chart-topping records, and influence as proof that he has successfully carved out his own unique and formidable path in the music industry, without needing to be anyone's successor.
One social media user, @001Xtasy, captured a middle-ground perspective, writing: 'This isn't hate, it's history speaking. Fela wasn't just music he was movement, resistance, sacrifice. You don't 'inherit' that legacy with charts and fashion. Wizkid is a global star in his own lane, but Fela is a revolutionary era that can't be replicated. Respect both, stop the forced comparisons.'
Another user, @hintrovertt, blamed social media for fostering the disrespect, noting: 'Most of these Wizkid fans are just kids who don't know who Fela is... Wizkid has never used his influence to speak against bad governance even once. So where is the comparison coming from?'
The clash underscores a recurring tension in Nigerian pop culture: the balancing act between celebrating contemporary superstardom and venerating the foundational, often politically charged legacies of past icons. While Wizkid's commercial and global reach is undeniable, Seun Kuti's outburst is a forceful reminder that, in his view, Fela's legacy resides in a realm beyond streams and awards—a realm of tangible sacrifice and confrontation with power.
