Kunle Kuti, son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has weighed in on the recent online exchange between singer Wizkid and his younger brother, Seun Kuti, describing the situation as deeply upsetting.
The disagreement began after Seun criticised Wizkid’s fans for drawing comparisons between the Grammy-winning artist and their late father. Seun argued that such comparisons diminish Fela Kuti’s legacy and misunderstand the scale and context of his influence.
Speaking on TheCable’s Our Two Kobo podcast, Kunle Kuti distanced himself from the debate and made it clear that he does not support comparisons between Wizkid and Fela. According to him, both figures occupy entirely different creative and historical spaces.
“I do not want anybody to compare them; it is two different things,” Kunle said.
He admitted that the controversy left him “heartbroken,” especially because of the respect and admiration he holds for Wizkid. Kunle revealed that the singer is one of the few artists he has actively wanted to meet, noting Wizkid’s Fela Kuti tattoo as a gesture he finds meaningful.
“I was heartbroken. What is this that is going on?” he said. “Wizkid is the only artist I have ever begged people that I want to meet in my life.”
Kunle added that Wizkid’s decision to tattoo Fela’s image stood out to him, pointing out that none of Fela’s children bear such tattoos themselves.
The comments add another perspective to the ongoing debate, highlighting the emotional weight carried by Fela Kuti’s legacy and the sensitivities surrounding how it is invoked in conversations about contemporary Afrobeats stars.
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