Afrobeat artiste and public commentator, Seun Kuti, has issued a formal rebuttal to supporters of Grammy Award–winning musician Ayodeji Balogun, professionally known as Wizkid (collectively referred to as “Wizkid FC”), following a social media dispute concerning the use of the sobriquet “Big Bird” and what he characterized as persistent and unwarranted attempts to associate his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, with online music-related controversies.
The dispute reportedly arose during an Instagram Live session on Tuesday, in which a member of Wizkid FC demanded that Seun Kuti discontinue the use of the nickname “Big Bird” on the basis that Wizkid is also described by fans as the “Biggest Bird.” Seun rejected the demand, asserting prior and longstanding use of the nickname and alleging deliberate provocation and disrespect by members of the fan base.
In the course of the livestream, Seun stated that the nickname predated Wizkid’s adoption of a similar moniker and accused Wizkid FC of engaging in unnecessary confrontation. He further criticized Wizkid and certain members of his management team, including DJ Tunez, for what he described as a failure to publicly disassociate themselves from repeated comparisons between Wizkid and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, which he considers offensive to his father’s legacy.
Seun also disclosed that the enduring intellectual and cultural legacy of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti continues to yield substantial financial benefits, stating that he recently received approximately $120,000 attributable solely to his status as Fela’s son, notwithstanding that Fela passed away over 29 years ago. He cited this as evidence of the continuing relevance and impact of his father’s life and work.
He clarified that his remarks were not directed at Wizkid personally, but rather at what he described as a toxic fan culture that equates online aggression with relevance and engages in the disrespect of historical figures under the guise of admiration.
The comments follow an earlier Instagram video posted by Seun on Saturday, in which he warned Wizkid FC to desist from invoking Fela’s name in online debates. During the Tuesday livestream, Seun further condemned what he described as abusive and unproductive conduct by some fans, challenging them to convert their claimed numerical strength into tangible social contributions, such as funding a public project in Wizkid’s name, rather than engaging in online harassment.
Finally, Seun rejected comparisons portraying Wizkid as a “New Fela” or as surpassing the late Afrobeat pioneer, arguing that such claims fundamentally misconstrue Fela’s legacy, which he said was defined by political activism, social consciousness, and personal sacrifice, in addition to musical achievement.#newsafro_
