Motunrayo Kuti, a member of the Kuti family, has weighed in on the escalating feud involving Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti and Nigerian Grammy Award winner Wizkid, defending her late grandfather, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, and criticising Wizkid in a social media post.
Motunrayo made the remarks in an Instagram post, reacting to Wizkid’s response to Seun Kuti after days of online exchanges involving Wizkid’s fan base, popularly known as Wizkid FC. Her comments followed a series of events that turned a fan-based dispute into a direct clash between artistes and their supporters.
In her post, Motunrayo accused Wizkid of disrespecting Fela’s legacy and attacked him personally, including references to his family background.
She also warned that public opinion could turn against the singer in the future, suggesting that his current popularity would not shield him from criticism forever.
Her intervention came after several days in which Seun Kuti criticised Wizkid FC for toxic fan behaviour, online harassment and repeated attempts to compare Wizkid to his late father. Seun has consistently rejected the idea of any “New Fela,” arguing that Fela’s legacy was rooted in political activism, resistance and social sacrifice, not fame or awards.
Although Seun initially said his criticism was directed at fan culture rather than Wizkid himself, he later questioned the singer’s silence.
During an Instagram Live session, Seun suggested that Wizkid’s failure to speak up while his fans were being criticised showed indifference, a comment that appeared to trigger Wizkid’s eventual response.
Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, later responded on Instagram Stories with posts that included insults directed at Seun Kuti.
In the posts, Wizkid dismissed Seun’s criticism and made controversial claims about his own status, including remarks comparing himself to Fela. The posts quickly circulated online, drawing widespread reactions.
In the same period, Wizkid also reposted a video of a woman who criticised Seun Kuti and his family. In the video, the woman accused Seun of seeking attention and claimed that Fela’s relevance today was tied to Wizkid’s popularity. She also attacked Seun personally, questioning his conduct and legacy.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who died in 1997, is widely regarded as the pioneer of Afrobeat and one of Africa’s most influential cultural figures. Beyond music, he was known for his outspoken opposition to military rule, corruption and social injustice, often at great personal cost.
Wizkid, on the other hand, is one of Nigeria’s most successful new-generation Afrobeat artistes, with global recognition, major international collaborations and a Grammy award. He commands a massive fan base at home and abroad, making him one of the most influential African musicians of his era.
