It’s an insult to compare Wizkid to Fela – Seun Kuti

Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has criticised comparisons between Afrobeats star Wizkid and his late father, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing such claims as disrespectful and rooted in ignorance.

Seun, who made the remarks during a recent Instagram livestream, warned fans of Wizkid — popularly known as Wizkid FC — to stop referring to the singer as a modern-day version of Fela, insisting that such parallels diminish his father’s legacy.

“Wizkid FC, keep Fela’s name out of your mouths. You try to claim that your fake artiste is the new Fela. When you saw that the shoes were too big to fill and people like me didn’t allow you to get away with those insults, you became uncomfortable. It is actually an insult to compare Wizkid to Fela,” Kuti said.

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He accused Wizkid’s fanbase of lacking respect, stating that their actions stem from ignorance rather than defiance.

“You people have no respect. If your lack of respect came from a place of defiance, I would respect it. But your lack of respect comes from a place of ignorance,” he added.

Seun Kuti further criticised what he described as the overzealous behaviour of some music fans, noting that online rivalries have negatively affected the Nigerian music industry.

“Wizkid fans are online disrespecting Fela again. Why must you always involve Fela in your petty discussions? The overzealousness of some fans has significantly affected the music industry. Some artistes can’t even collaborate because of fan rivalries,” he said.

The singer went on to label Wizkid FC “the most ignorant fanbase in the world,” urging them to focus on enjoying their preferred artiste’s music without unnecessary comparisons.

“Concentrate on your artiste. Can’t you enjoy the music without comparing it to something else? Do you know why you can’t enjoy your artiste’s music without comparisons? It’s because the music does not fill your spirit. You can pretend to enjoy it, but spiritually, you are not satisfied,” Kuti stated.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, widely regarded as the founder of Afrobeat, remains one of Africa’s most influential cultural and political voices, with his music deeply rooted in activism, social commentary and resistance.