Seun Kuti Opens Up On Being Musically Cancelled In Nigeria For 13 Years

Afrobeats singer Seun Kuti, has opened up on how he has been musically cancelled for 13 years, over his conscious class of music.

Speaking on the Selah Meditate podcast, the son of Afrobeats pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti explained that due to his class of music which critiqued societal ills, the Nigerian government invested in artistes who don't make conscious music.

According to him, despite being blacklisted for over a decade— he is not really affected, noting how Nigeria is only a small fraction of his audience.

He said: “I have been cancelled for long. People think I am not cancelled because I am doing well. Nigeria has cancelled me long time but Nigeria is just like a really small percentage of my market. So, being cancelled doesn’t really affect me.”

"The impact of Fela and his contemporaries who spoke truth to power sacred the government. They made the government realised the power of artistry. So, the government invested more in artists who don’t make conscious music than artists who sing about realities."

"When I am in Nigeria, I don’t fear to say whatever I want to say. That is a lot of people are saying that I should be cancelled. I have been cancelled for about 13 years now after I performed conscious music at former Lagos State Governor Ambode’s event. Even before then, my music was heavily restricted."