Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has dismissed allegations that he is using Wizkid’s name to revive his career, describing the claims as unfounded and disrespectful to his long-standing achievements.
The controversy followed a series of recent livestreams in which Kuti openly criticised the Starboy boss and some of Wizkid’s fans, prompting accusations that he was chasing relevance by mentioning the Grammy-winning singer.
Reacting in a video, the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti reeled out his global accomplishments, insisting that his career remains solid and active.
“Some people are saying I am trying to use Wizkid to revive my career. When did my career die for me to be trying to revive it?” Kuti asked rhetorically.
According to him, the past year alone proves his relevance on the global music stage. He revealed that he performed 82 shows worldwide, including sold-out concerts across Australia, Europe, the United States, and Brazil.
“I sold out shows in Australia, Europe, America, and Brazil. I have people who are fans of my music worldwide,” he said.
Kuti further stressed that the music industry is expansive enough to accommodate multiple successful artists, rejecting the idea of rivalry or competition for relevance. He likened himself to a “Big Bird,” suggesting that no single artiste can dominate the entire space.
“I call myself Big Bird because the sky is big for everybody. No matter how big you are, you can’t occupy the whole sky,” he added.
Dismissing the criticism entirely, Kuti concluded that only artistes struggling for relevance would be concerned about reviving their careers.
“People whose careers need revival know themselves. It is not me,” he said.
The comments have continued to spark debate online, further fueling conversations about ego, relevance, and coexistence within Nigeria’s music industry.
