Yeni Kuti, the eldest child of late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has broken her silence on the heated online battle between her brother, Seun Kuti, and music superstar Wizkid.
A History of Friendship
Speaking on the TVC program Your View on Thursday, Yeni surprised many by refusing to take sides or condemn Wizkid, despite his controversial claim that he is “bigger” than her late father. Instead, she emphasized her deep affection for the singer, describing him as a close friend (“padi”) with whom she shares a long history, dating back to his early days as a backup singer at the Shrine.
Calling for Unity
Yeni urged both parties to bury the hatchet, noting that the infighting only distracts from the upcoming celebration of Fela at the Grammy Awards. She questioned why the current generation continues to drag a man who has been dead for nearly three decades, arguing that the constant mention of Fela’s name only proves his enduring greatness.
She stated:
“I love Wizkid a lot. You know, Wizkid is my padi now. When two giants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. I refuse to enter some of the insults that they are hauling because I love Wizkid a lot. Wizkid is my padi now and my so friend. We have come a long way together. I remember when we started that shrine, he was a backup singer and the shrine during Felabration.
“So, there’s no way I can ever no like Wizkid. I like him and I wish at the beginning, he had quickly put a stop to it but he didn’t. Let’s mend fences , we are one people. We’re just about to go and celebrate our icon at the Grammy and you’re all doing as if you are trying to dent it. It’s not Fela or Fela family that you are denting, it’s all Nigeria. Did you Bob Marley people do that? They don’t do that.
“Whichever way you look at it, this one is bigger than Fela, that one is bigger than Fela. He started the journal of music, he’s an icon, and so if you have problems, why are you attacking him? He has done his own, he has gone. What people don’t understand is Fela has been dead for 27 years. And you are still mentioning his name. That’s just answer to his greatness. So let’s just respect that. Fight yourselves you that are alive and leave the man that has done his own and gone.”