By Ghazali Ibrahim
Yeni Kuti, eldest daughter of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has publicly affirmed her friendship with Nigerian superstar Wizkid, even as she urges respect and cooler heads amid the ongoing online dispute involving her brother, Seun Kuti.
Speaking on Television Continental’s (TVC) morning show, Your View, on Thursday, Yeni described the Grammy-winning music act whose real name Ayodeji Balogun as “a longtime friend” whom she respects, noting that Wizkid once performed as a backup singer at Felabration, the annual cultural festival honouring Fela’s legacy.
“I love Wizkid a lot, he is my paddy na. He is my small friend,” she said, adding that her remarks were not driven by ill will but by concern over how quickly public debates have escalated.
Yeni’s statement comes amid a highly publicised clash between Seun Kuti and Wizkid, a disagreement that began online when Seun criticised Wizkid’s fanbase for comparisons between the pop star and their father, Fela, an Afrobeat pioneer whose influence spans decades.
While Yeni acknowledged her friendship with Wizkid, she also criticised aspects of the feud, emphasising that dragging Fela’s name into the argument was unnecessary.
“He did too much by insulting my father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti,” she said, stressing her disappointment over the timing and tone of the exchange.
Yeni also called for greater respect around Fela’s legacy, pointing out that the late musician’s influence persists globally many years after his death. She reminded viewers that conflicts of this nature can detract from more positive celebrations of Fela’s contributions to music and culture.
The clash has sparked lively debate online, with fans of each artist weighing in from various perspectives. Yeni’s remarks, rooted in both personal affection and cultural respect, provide a rare conciliatory voice amid a tempestuous chapter in Nigerian music discourse.
