Afrobeat musician star Femi Kuti has called for an end to recurring comparisons between contemporary Nigerian music stars and his late father, legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing such debates as unnecessary distractions from more urgent national issues.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Saturday, Femi said he deliberately avoided joining the recent online arguments, stressing that his father’s legacy should not be framed as a point of competition with today’s artistes.
According to him, Fela occupies a unique and foundational position in Nigerian music history and should be honoured rather than compared.
“Fela is our father,” he said. “I would say all, even the younger artistes, respect him. I don’t think it was an issue that should have been brought up. He is the template of many things musically and artistically in Nigeria.”
Femi added that placing Fela in competition with modern-day stars undermines the depth of his influence, noting that Nigeria’s current music industry was built on the groundwork his father laid.
“So Fela should just be put in a section of his own. We should idolise and respect him. He’s our father,” he said. “I don’t want to go into Seun and Wizkid’s matter because Seun is my brother and Wizkid is like a son to me. I just wish it did not arise. Hopefully, everybody will calm down very soon.”
While acknowledging the global success of contemporary Afrobeat artistes, Femi said the conversation should be centred on unity, growth and using music as a tool to strengthen the country.
“Nigeria has been participating in the Grammys so much these days. It’s good for Africa, it’s good for the country, it’s good we’re getting the recognition we deserve,” he said. “We should be happy for ourselves and use all this to build the country, build our music industry, and build the nation.”
He lamented that Nigeria continues to struggle with deep-rooted challenges such as tribalism, terrorism and corruption, urging Nigerians, especially young people, to focus their energy on governance and national development rather than celebrity rivalries.
“Tribalism is a big issue. Terrorism is a big issue. Those are the things young people, myself, everybody should be focused on,” he said. “How is Nigeria going to be safe? How are we going to move forward?”
Reflecting on the past, Femi recalled that many of the issues his father criticised decades ago remain unresolved today.
“There was a time in the 1970s when general hospitals gave drugs free. Things were moving, and Fela was complaining then. Many of us didn’t understand what he was talking about. Now it’s clear that corruption was already killing Nigeria,” he said.
He warned that constant attention to what he described as irrelevant public debates could contribute to the nation’s decline.
“If we keep discussing issues that are not relevant to the general public, then we are part of the downfall of the nation itself,” he added.
Femi also expressed concern that the same political and social problems continue to dominate his music and that of his family, decades after Fela first raised them.
“It’s sad that after 40 years in the business, 90 per cent of my songs are political. Seun is doing his thing, and my son has two albums that are political as well,” he said. “How long are we going to keep singing about poverty, kidnapping and terrorism without real change?”
He urged young Nigerians to take responsibility for demanding better leadership, warning that the country risks stagnation if citizens remain passive.
“Fela spoke, and he’s gone. It’s been 29 years, and we’re still talking about the same issues,” he said. “If young people don’t take the baton and demand good governance, we’re going to be in serious trouble.”
The renewed debate followed comments attributed to Afrobeat star Wizkid, which sparked online reactions and exchanges involving Seun Kuti. It coincided with the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s nomination for a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, once again highlighting his enduring influence on Nigerian music and global culture.
