Yeni Kuti, first daughter of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has weighed in on the ongoing feud involving her brother, Seun Kuti, and Nigerian music star, Wizkid, expressing disappointment over comments she believes crossed the line.
Speaking on Your View on TVC on Thursday, Yeni said she has a long-standing personal relationship with Wizkid, describing him as a friend she has known since his early days in the music industry.
“I love Wizkid a lot, he is my paddy. He is my small friend,” she said, recalling that the singer once performed as a backup act at the New Afrika Shrine during his formative years.
However, Yeni said her concern was not about disagreements between Seun Kuti and Wizkid, but about what she described as unnecessary references to her late father during the feud.
“I cannot stop liking Wizkid, but I feel he did too much by calling out my father. If you have a problem with someone, why bring Fela into it?” she asked.
The disagreement between Wizkid and Seun Kuti began on social media following comments linked to public criticism and counter-criticism, which later escalated into exchanges that drew in references to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the late Afrobeat icon.
Yeni noted that the timing of the controversy was particularly troubling, coming at a period when global recognition of Fela’s legacy is being celebrated.
“We are about to celebrate our icon at the Grammys and then all of this starts. It looks like an attempt to rubbish something bigger than all of us,” she said.
She stressed that any perceived attack on Fela’s legacy goes beyond the Kuti family.
“It’s not Fela or his family you are dirtying; it’s Nigeria,” she added.
Yeni further remarked that continued references to Fela decades after his death only underline his enduring relevance.
“Fela has done his own 27 years and even after 27 years, people are still calling his name. That alone answers his greatness,” she said.
The feud continues to generate debate online, drawing reactions from fans and cultural commentators alike.
