Femi Kuti, son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has expressed regret over comparisons between contemporary artist, Wizkid and his late father.
In an interview on Arise Television, Femi described the debate as unnecessary and unhelpful, emphasising that Nigeria faces more pressing issues.
The controversy arose after Wizkid claimed he was “bigger” than Fela, after bein triggered by Seun Kuti.
Femi declined to participate, stating Fela’s influence should be respected and not compared to others.
“Wizkid is like a son to me, and seun is my brother, I just wished the whole thing between them didn’t happen and I really hope everyone would calm down soon. Fela is our father and every artiste respects him”, he said.
He emphasised Fela’s foundational role in Nigeria’s music industry, saying, “Fela is the template musically and artistically in Nigeria. He should be put in a sector of his own and respected.”
Femi urged Nigerians to focus on unity and nation-building, leveraging global recognition of Afrobeat to address issues like corruption, insecurity, and tribalism.
“This recognition is good for Nigeria and Africa. We should use it to build the country, build our music industry, and come together,” he added.
He noted that many problems Fela sang about decades ago remain unresolved, saying, “For 29 years, he has been gone, yet we are still discussing the same issues.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
