- Femi Kuti says the Wizkid and Seun Kuti feud should never have started
- He insists Fela Kuti should not be compared with today’s artistes
- The Afrobeat legend praises Nigerian artists’ Grammy success
- He urges Nigerians to focus on corruption, insecurity, and governance
Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has spoken on the Wizkid and Seun Kuti feud, saying renewed debates comparing his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, with modern Nigerian music stars are unnecessary and distracting.
Afrobeat singer Femi Kuti has expressed disappointment over the recent feud involving Wizkid and Seun Kuti, stressing that his father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, should never be dragged into comparisons with present-day Nigerian artistes.
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Femi made this known during an interview on Arise Television, where he explained why he deliberately avoided commenting earlier, noting that Nigeria is grappling with issues far more serious than celebrity rivalries.
“I’m sure you’ve seen that I’ve not said anything,” Femi said.
“Fela is our father. Even the younger artistes respect him. I don’t think it was an issue that should have been brought up at all.”
According to him, Fela Kuti occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s cultural and musical history, serving as a foundation for many artistic movements in the country. He added that such a legacy deserves respect, not debate.
“He is the template of many things musically and artistically in Nigeria,” he said.
While rejecting comparisons, Femi praised the global success of Nigerian artistes, particularly their increasing presence at the Grammy Awards, describing it as a major win for the country and Africa.
“It’s good for Africa. It’s good for the country. We’re finally getting the recognition we deserve,” he said.
“We should use this momentum to build our music industry and build the nation.”
However, the Afrobeat icon warned that important national conversations are being sidelined. He pointed to tribalism, terrorism, and corruption as issues that deserve more public attention than entertainment disputes.
“Tribalism is a big issue. Terrorism is a big issue. Those are the things young people, myself, everybody should be focused on,” he added.
Reflecting on the past, Femi recalled how Fela Kuti repeatedly warned Nigerians about corruption and bad governance, long before the country’s current struggles.
“There was a time in the seventies when if you were sick, the general hospital gave drugs for free,” he said, lamenting how far the nation has drifted from those days.