Last week, I read a report that genuinely gladdened my heart. It was the news that Nigerian music stars Seun Kuti and Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P of the defunct P-Square, had resolved their feud that erupted in 2023 over the general elections.
That disagreement, which played out noisily on social media, stemmed from opposing views on the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate. The feud began after Seun Kuti described Obi as an “opportunist,” prompting Mr P to question Kuti’s relevance and success as an artiste. What followed was a bitter exchange that divided fans and dominated public discourse for weeks.
So, when both men were recently spotted embracing at a Lagos nightclub, it felt like a rare display of maturity in an industry often consumed by ego-driven rivalries.
Unfortunately, that moment of relief was short-lived.
Seun Kuti soon found himself in another public confrontation—this time with fans of Grammy-winning singer Wizkid. The controversy reportedly began over Seun’s long-standing nickname, “Big Bird,” and quickly escalated into a broader dispute about the legacy of his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Seun went as far as hosting a seven-day Instagram Live session, attacking Wizkid’s fans and repeatedly asserting Fela’s unmatched cultural and political relevance. Wizkid eventually fired back, declaring that he was “bigger than Fela” and questioning what Seun himself had achieved beyond his father’s name.
“I’m bigger than your dad! What have you done?” Wizkid asked in one post, later calling Seun a “fool” and implying he had surpassed Fela’s legacy.
As a public affairs analyst, my position is simple: Seun Kuti must stop these incessant fights and focus on building a legacy of his own.
Being Fela’s son is not, by itself, a legacy. Seun inherited Egypt 80, his father’s band, but what defining musical or activist milestones has he created with it? What enduring contribution will history associate uniquely with him?
Instead of consistently producing impactful music or leading sustained protests against bad governance—hallmarks of his father’s activism—Seun increasingly appears on social media hurling insults at colleagues and young people old enough to be his children.
This pattern is not new.
In December 2020, Seun was reportedly involved in a gun-related altercation during a parking dispute in Ikeja. In 2021, he allegedly insulted Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during his sister Yeni Kuti’s 60th birthday celebration. In 2023, a viral video showed him shouting at, pushing, and slapping a police officer, who remarkably remained calm and professional. In the same incident, Seun aggressively ordered a woman believed to be his wife back into their car when she attempted to intervene. She complied immediately—an interaction that raised serious concerns about temperament and control.
Politically, Seun’s attempt to revive his father’s ‘Movement of the People’ in 2020 fizzled almost immediately. I personally sent a reporter to cover the press conference announcing the revival. He returned disappointed, reporting a sparse turnout and an atmosphere lacking seriousness. Today, the party has all but vanished from public consciousness. Where is the Movement of the People in the political arena of Nigeria today?
Seun is also perpetually at war with artists over the sampling of Fela’s music, behaving as though he alone owns a legacy that belongs to the world. This raises an unavoidable question: is Seun more “Fela” than Femi Anikulapo-Kuti?
Interestingly, Femi’s conduct offers a stark contrast. While Seun accused Wizkid of pretending to love Fela because of his tattoo, Femi publicly defended the singer. According to him, Wizkid is close to the Kuti family, deeply respectful of Fela’s legacy, and consistently supportive of Felabration. “Wizkid is like family to me,” Femi said. “Except when he’s not in the country, he always shows up for Felabration. The Wizkid I know is humble and respectful.” That testimony matters a lot.
As for Wizkid, I genuinely believe he holds the late Fela in the highest esteem. He has never granted a formal interview claiming to be greater than Fela. On the contrary, his actions suggest deep admiration—evident in his Fela tattoo and his willingness to perform at Felabration free of charge.
No sane person tattoos the image of someone they despise on their body. That is why Seun Kuti goofed by cursing Wizkid and declaring that he would never achieve anything meaningful unless he erased the tattoo. Ironically, Wizkid has already achieved far more commercially and globally than Seun, who largely survives on his father’s enduring royalties.
It is therefore reasonable to assume that Wizkid’s “bigger than Fela” comment was made in anger, purely to spite Seun—not as a serious claim of superiority over a cultural icon. Still, Wizkid bears responsibility for the fallout.
Given the outrage his words generated, he owed the public a clarification. Silence only deepened resentment and allowed unnecessary tension to fester.
This is why, in moments like this, I rate Davido above Wizkid.
When allegations surrounding Davido’s paternity dispute with Anu went viral, he publicly stated that he had conducted five paternity tests, all of which returned negative results. Whether one believes him or not is secondary. What matters is that Davido responded instead of hiding behind arrogance or silence.
That said, Davido can still do better. It would be fair—and wise—for him to honour Anu’s request for an independent paternity test conducted transparently and devoid of any perceived family interference. Anu’s mother, Ayotomide, has consistently alleged that the 2014 test was compromised, and many Nigerians remain unconvinced of Davido’s claim of never knowing Ayotomide, citing what they believe is a striking resemblance between Anu, Imade, and Davido’s father.
I must also commend Davido’s father, Dr. Deji Adeleke with the maturity with which he handled the matter till date. That is what any responsible father will do.
However, truth is, an independent test would put the controversy to rest conclusively and allow all parties to move on with dignity.
In the end, legends like Fela do not need defending through insults or online brawls. Their legacies speak for themselves. What today’s stars—and their critics—should focus on is not who is “bigger,” but who is building something meaningful that will endure long after the noise fades.
Legacy is not inherited. It is earned.
Akinsuyi, former group politics editor of the Daily Independent, writes from Abuja. He can be reached at shabydayo@gmail.com
