Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has criticised fans for comparing new-generation artists to his father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, calling such labels ignorant and disrespectful. He highlighted how online fan rivalries misuse Fela's legacy. Seun urged a focus on understanding Fela's political activism rather than superficial comparisons.
Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat musician and activist who leads his father's band Egypt 80, expressed strong frustration in an Instagram post over the frequent invocation of Fela Anikulapo Kuti's name in debates about contemporary Afrobeat stars. He specifically targeted fans of Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Balogun, for dragging Fela into online arguments during fan wars.
Seun described the "New Fela" label, often applied to rising artists, as a misguided attempt by fans and promoters to elevate performers without grasping the depth of Fela's contributions. Fela was renowned for blending music with political resistance, Pan-Africanism, and social critique, elements Seun believes are absent in modern comparisons. "Now that it is clear it cannot work, people are angry because we did not allow anyone wear a crown that does not belong to them," Seun stated.
He distinguished between meaningful disrespect rooted in defiance—something Fela embodied in his stand against oppression—and the ignorance he sees in current online exchanges. "I like disrespect when it comes from defiance," he explained, "But when it comes from ignorance, that is something else entirely."
Seun also addressed toxic fan culture, warning that extreme loyalty fosters division among young Nigerians and distracts artists from their work. He recalled a past live session where his positive remarks about Wizkid's Grammy potential were misinterpreted and used against him, underscoring how misinformation fuels these rivalries. By promoting unity in the creative space, Seun aims to protect Fela's enduring legacy from being trivialised.
