Wizkid, Seun Kuti Exchange Insults Over Comparisons With Fela

Afrobeats superstar Wizkid and Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti have continued a public war of words over comparisons with the late music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, as the disagreement spilled across social media this week.

The dispute, which has trended online for several days, stems from repeated comparisons between Wizkid and Fela by Wizkid’s fanbase, popularly known as Wizkid FC. Seun Kuti, Fela’s son, has consistently pushed back against the comparisons, arguing that his father’s legacy extends far beyond music to political activism, social resistance and cultural influence.

Tensions escalated on January 20, 2026, when Wizkid responded angrily on X to sustained criticism and online attacks, some of which he said targeted his family and fanbase. In a series of posts, the singer dismissed the Fela comparison and took aim at critics, using language that quickly drew widespread attention.

One of the posts included a personal remark about Seun Kuti’s wife, a comment that many social media users described as inappropriate and unnecessary. Wizkid also downplayed comparisons between himself and Fela, insisting that the late Afrobeat pioneer’s legacy should not be dragged into fan arguments.

The comments triggered a strong reaction online, with several users condemning the personal nature of the exchange and urging restraint from both sides.

On January 21, Seun Kuti responded in a video message addressed directly to Wizkid. In the video, Seun criticised the involvement of women and children in the dispute, describing it as unacceptable. He questioned why his wife had been dragged into the argument and accused Wizkid’s fanbase of harassing his child on social media.

Seun said he remained unbroken by the attacks and added that he would not shield his daughter from public criticism, arguing that the experience would help build resilience. He said he wanted his child to grow up strong, as he had done.

The Afrobeat singer also addressed Wizkid’s tattoo of Fela on his arm, warning him to remove it and suggesting that he honour his own father instead if he wished to celebrate family pride.

The controversy began earlier in January when Seun criticised Wizkid FC for likening Wizkid to Fela, describing the comparison as disrespectful. He argued that Fela’s influence as a revolutionary figure should not be reduced to fan debates or commercial success.

Before Wizkid’s social media response, Seun had released several videos accusing Wizkid’s fans of ignorance and of attempting to appropriate Fela’s image, insisting that calling Wizkid “the new Fela” undermines the late musician’s historical significance.

Public reaction to the exchange has remained divided. While some fans defended Wizkid for responding to online attacks, others criticised him for personalising the dispute and dragging Seun’s family into the argument. Many commentators have also called for Fela Kuti’s legacy to be kept separate from celebrity rivalries.

The episode has once again reignited a long-standing debate in Nigerian music, contrasting Fela Kuti’s revolutionary impact and political activism with Wizkid’s global commercial success, a discussion that continues to polarise fans across social media platforms.