Grammy-nominated Afrobeats singer Seun Kuti has claimed he has been sidelined in the Nigerian music industry for over 13 years because of his style and message.
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Seun Kuti attributed this to the legacy of his father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and other artists who used music as a tool to challenge poor governance. According to him, their influence made authorities more aware of the power of conscious music, leading to greater support for less politically outspoken artists while critical voices faced restrictions.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Saleh Meditate podcast, Seun Kuti said government interference has had a lasting impact on the direction and substance of modern Nigerian music.
Despite this, Seun Kuti noted that being blacklisted locally has not significantly affected his career, as Nigeria represents only a small portion of his global audience.
“The impact of Fela and others who spoke truth to power made the government realise how powerful music can be. That’s why they invested more in artists who avoid social issues rather than those who address real-life challenges,” he said.
He added that he has faced backlash for years, especially after performing conscious music at an event hosted by former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, noting that his music had already been facing limitations even before then.
“I’ve been effectively cancelled for about 13 years. People think otherwise because I’m still doing well, but Nigeria is just a small part of my market, so it hasn’t really affected me,” Seun said.
Seun Kuti further explained that many artists fear being blacklisted because Nigeria makes up the majority of their fanbase, unlike his more international reach.
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