‘You’re soiling Nigeria’s reputation not Fela’s name,’ Yeni Kuti tells Wizkid, Seun
Yeni Kuti, daughter of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has reacted to the online feud between Ayodeji Balogun otherwise called Wizkid and Seun Kuti, saying the dispute is affecting Nigeria’s image.
Speaking on TVC’s Your View on Thursday, Ms Kuti said the argument was affecting Nigeria’s image and called for respect for icons.
She said, “The Nigerian reputation is suffering because we are now seen as people who don’t respect their icons. Fela has been dead for 27 years and you are still calling his name, that is just answer to his greatness.”
Ms Kuti described Wizkid as “her small friend” and recalled that he once performed as a backup singer during Felabration; a week-long music and arts festival held in Lagos annually to celebrate the music and legend of the late icon.
She stated, “I love Wizkid a lot.. I remember when he started he was a backup singer during Felabration. I like him but I wish at the beginning he would have quickly put a stop to it.”
She added that the feud was not only about Fela or his family, but also about Nigeria as a whole.
“You are not dirtying Fela or Fela’s family, it’s Nigeria. Do you see Bob Marley’s people do that? We are one in Nigeria and we were supposed to come together to caution this,” she added.
Co-host of the show, Tope Mark Odigie, also weighed in during its Wednesday’s episode.
She said Wizkid’s comments showed a lack of training and respect, warning that such behaviour could influence his followers.
She stated, “When you are not well trained… you have allowed fame get into your head. I expected more from him… people used to say Wizkid is very grounded and respects people.”
Mrs Odigie added that the situation was concerning because Fela’s legacy goes beyond music.
She said, “You wrote music and we vibed to it. Someone created it. We are permitting this nonsense online… when it happens from someone as high as Wizkid, it flows to all his followers.”
The dispute began on January 10 when Seun Kuti asked Wizkid’s fans to stop calling the singer the “New Fela,” calling the comparison disrespectful.
The argument later shifted to the nickname “Big Bird,” with Seun accusing Wizkid of using the name he had long used.
Wizkid responded on Tuesday with a series of Instagram Stories, saying he was “bigger than” Fela.
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