The global music community is currently reflecting on the weight of legacy versus modern commercial success following a rare public disagreement within the Afrobeat dynasty. Femi Kuti, the eldest son of the pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has stepped forward to offer a grounded perspective on recent claims regarding musical “greatness.”
The discourse began after a series of digital exchanges between Wizkid (Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun) and Seun Kuti. During the back-and-forth, Wizkid made assertions suggesting his achievements surpassed those of the late Fela Kuti.
The tension originated from long-standing debates about the “Big 3” of Afrobeats (Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy) and their connection to the original Afrobeat sound created by Fela.
Speaking with poise, Femi Kuti addressed the controversy without fueling the fire. He expressed skepticism that other heavyweights like Davido or Burna Boy would follow suit in challenging Fela’s status, noting their consistent public reverence for his father’s work.
“When Wizkid decided to answer Seun, saying he is greater than Fela, there’s nothing I can say but does he truly feel that way, or was it said because of the situation with Seun? Only time will tell which artist is bigger than Fela. For me, Fela is the greatest.
Femi Kuti
Femi’s stance highlights a distinction between momentary frustration and genuine belief. He suggests that Wizkid’s comments might have been a reactive defense in a heated moment rather than a calculated dismissal of history.
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This event has sparked a wider conversation among fans in Lagos and the diaspora. For many, Fela Kuti represents more than music; he represents a struggle for civil rights. To the younger “Gen Z” audience, Wizkid represents the successful export of Nigerian culture to the world stage.
The community remains divided between honoring the foundation laid in the 1970s and celebrating the unprecedented commercial heights of the 2020s.
