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By Seyi Babalola
Yeni Kuti, the first child of late Afrobeat inventor Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has finally responded to Wizkid’s internet feud with her brother, Seun Kuti.
Last week, Seun Kuti began dragging Wizkid’s supporters, known as Wizkid FC, for equating the singer’s legacy and influence to that of his father, the late Fela Kuti.
The fight escalated on the sixth day of the constant dragging when Seun dared Wizkid to prove he truly cared for his fans by protecting them from him.
Breaking silence in solidarity to his fans, Wizkid told Seun that “I’m bigger than your father”, and challenged Seun Kuti to do his worst.
His response sparked controversy online, with many blaming Seun for pushing the singer to the wall while some netizens including some of Fela’s children berated Wizkid for disrespecting the late legend.
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The development, which resulted in a public debate about Wizkid and Fela’s legacy and influence, elicited conflicting reactions from Nigerian celebrities.
However, amid the controversy, Yeni Kuti, speaking on TVC’s ‘Your View’ program on Thursday, stated that she declined to get involved in the battle with Wizkid because the musician is a personal friend and she adores him.
Speaking about Wizkid’s long-standing bond with Fela’s family, Yeni, who stated, “Wizkid is my padi,” invited the audience to join in celebrating Fela at this year’s Grammy Awards.
Yeni said, “I love Wizkid a lot. You know, Wizkid is my padi now. When two giants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. I refuse to enter some of the insults that they are hauling because I love Wizkid a lot. Wizkid is my padi now and my so friend. We have come a long way together. I remember when we started that shrine, he was a backup singer and the shrine during Felabration.
“So, there’s no way I can ever no like Wizkid. I like him and I wish at the beginning, he had quickly put a stop to it but he didn’t. Let’s mend fences , we are one people. We’re just about to go and celebrate our icon at the Grammy and you’re all doing as if you are trying to dent it. It’s not Fela or Fela family that you are denting, it’s all Nigeria. Did you Bob Marley people do that? They don’t do that.
“Whichever way you look at it, this one is bigger than Fela, that one is bigger than Fela. He started the journal of music, he’s an icon, and so if you have problems, why are you attacking him? He has done his own, he has gone. What people don’t understand is Fela has been dead for 27 years. And you are still mentioning his name. That’s just answer to his greatness. So let’s just respect that. Fight yourselves you that are alive and leave the man that has done his own and gone.”
