The long-running feud between Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti and pop star Wizkid has taken a new turn following Seun’s criticism of Wizkid for having a tattoo of his late father, music legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, on his arm.
During an Instagram Live session, Seun urged Wizkid to remove the tattoo, suggesting that he replace it with an image of his own father. He warned that retaining the tattoo could hinder Wizkid’s chances of achieving lasting greatness.
Remove my father’s tattoo from your arm and replace it with your father’s head. If you don’t do it, you will never use your hands to do great things in life, Seun said.
The dispute began after Seun openly rejected comparisons between Wizkid and Fela, particularly claims that the pop star is bigger or more influential than the Afrobeat pioneer.
Seun has consistently argued that such comparisons undermine Fela’s legacy, stressing that his father’s impact as a political and cultural activist transcends commercial music success.
He has also criticised Wizkid’s fans for frequently invoking Fela’s name during online debates, describing the practice as disrespectful and historically insensitive.
According to Seun, equating modern-day commercial achievements with Fela’s historical influence reflects a poor understanding of the socio-political role the late musician played in Nigeria and beyond.
While acknowledging Wizkid’s success as an artiste, he questioned why comparisons with Fela are repeatedly drawn.
Seun also accused Wizkid of adopting the nickname Big Bird, which he claimed was previously associated with him.
In response, Wizkid took to Instagram to address the controversy, stating that he does not welcome comparisons with Fela and asserting that his stature should be judged within the context of contemporary music success.
The exchange has continued to generate intense debate on social media, with fans and industry figures weighing in on the legacy of Fela Kuti and the place of modern Nigerian music stars in global pop culture.
