‘I Love Wizkid But My Father’s Legacy Should Be Respected’, Says Yeni Kuti

Yeni Kuti, daughter of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has broken her silence over the ongoing feud between Nigerian music superstar Wizkid and her brother, Seun Kuti, stressing the need to respect her father’s legacy.

Speaking on a general interest show, ‘Your View’ on TVC, Yeni stressed that while she holds Wizkid in high regard, Fela’s name should not be dragged into contemporary disputes.

Speaking passionately, Yeni said, “Wizkid is my paddy, but you know when two giants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. I love Wizkid a lot, he is my small friend. I remember when he started as a backup singer at the Shrine. I wish he had put a stop to it at the beginning. We are just about to celebrate our icon at the Grammy, and you are doing all these.

“It’s not Fela or his family you’re dirtying, it’s Nigeria. Did you see Bob Marley’s people do that? He started a genre of music, and he is an icon, so if you have a problem, why bring him into it?

“People don’t understand that Fela has been dead 27 years, and you’re still mentioning him; that attests to his greatness. You can fight yourselves as you’re alive, but put him out of it.”

Yeni emphasised that the dispute, primarily driven by comparisons between Wizkid and Seun Kuti, should not tarnish Fela’s name.

Her remarks made it clear that while she maintains a close relationship with Wizkid and respects his talent, she was calling for decorum and reverence for her father’s contributions to music and culture in Nigeria.

The statement came amid a public feud between Wizkid and Seun Kuti, which erupted after some fans and media outlets began comparing Wizkid’s achievements to Fela’s.

Seun Kuti had publicly criticised the comparisons, insisting that calling Wizkid the “new Fela” was disrespectful and undermined his father’s legacy.

The feud, however, escalated into a series of back-and-forth statements online.