Yeni Kuti Says She Loves Wizkid but Condemns Insult on Fela Amid Feud With Seun Kuti
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that Yeni Kuti, the first daughter of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, had weighed in on the escalating feud between her brother, Seun Kuti, and Grammy-winning singer Wizkid, saying the music star crossed a line by dragging her late father into the dispute.
OTN News further reports as gathered that Yeni, speaking on Thursday during an appearance on TVC’s Your View, said that her reaction is not rooted in hostility toward Wizkid, whom she described as a longtime friend, but in what she considered an unnecessary and disrespectful reference to her father.
“I love Wizkid a lot, he is my paddy na. He is my small friend. I remember when he started at the Shrine, he was a backup singer. I cannot stop liking Wizkid,” he said.
However, she stressed that the situation took a troubling turn when the name of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was invoked during the online exchange.
“He did too much by insulting my father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti,” Yeni stated. “If you have a problem with someone, why are you now calling Fela out?”
OTN News recalls that the feud erupted earlier in the week following a heated social media exchange between Seun Kuti and Wizkid, which quickly spiralled into personal insults and draws widespread public attention.
What began as a clash of opinions soon degenerated, with Fela’s legacy dragged into the argument, sparking outrage among fans and cultural commentators.
Yeni said she wishes Wizkid had ended the exchange before it escalated further.
“I wish when all these started, he had put a stop to it before it became what it is now,” she adds.
She also expressed disappointment over the timing of the controversy, noting that it coincides with renewed international recognition of Fela’s influence.
“We are just about to celebrate our icon at the Grammy and you are all doing all this rubbish, as if you are trying to dirty something,” she said, adding “It’s not Fela or Fela’s family you are dirtying, it’s Nigeria.”
Emphasizing her father’s enduring legacy and global relevance, Yeni added that the continued reference to Fela decades after his death only underscores his greatness.
“Fela has done his own 27 years, 27 years, and you are still calling his name. That is just the answer to his greatness,” she said.
OTN News observes that the comments added a new dimension to the public feud, as reactions continue to trail the clash between two prominent figures in Nigeria’s music scene and its implications for cultural respect and legacy.
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