Nigerian music superstar Wizkid has broken his silence following days of scathing criticism from fellow singer Seun Kuti, escalating a heated public debate that has dominated social media and entertainment conversations across Nigeria.
The controversy originates from Kuti’s frequent warnings to Wizkid FC fans about making similarities between the Grammy-winning Afrobeats musician and his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
In a series of livestreams and online posts, Seun argued that such comparisons diminish Fela’s revolutionary legacy, which he said was rooted not just in music but in political activism, cultural resistance and genre-defining innovation.
Seun maintained that drawing inspiration from Fela’s sound or sampling elements of Afrobeat does not amount to being “the new Fela”, insisting that the title is uniquely tied to Nigeria’s socio-political history and cannot be casually reassigned.
He also rejected claims that he was clout-chasing, stressing that his career required no revival through controversy, while citing his extensive international touring, including 82 shows in 2025.
The comments sparked divided reactions online, with some accusing Seun of unfairly targeting Wizkid, while others defended his stance as a legitimate effort to protect his father’s legacy.
On Tuesday, January 20, Wizkid responded with a series of blunt, unfiltered posts across Instagram Stories, some of which were later deleted and X. Tagging Seun’s handle, @bigbirdkuti, Wizkid fired back in a tone that quickly set social media alight.
“@bigbirdkuti hungry boy! U too small! Na ur papa we dey talk to. @bigbirdkuti hungry bird!” he wrote in one post.
In another, he added: “Ok everybody better pass Wizkid! Can we all sleep now? Fela fight for freedom this fool Dey fight fc! Oloshi Omo ale!”
Other posts included variations such as claims of being “bigger than your papa” and “I’m Big Wiz everyday bigger than your papa!! Wetin u one do fool?”
The messages, written in a mix of Pidgin English and Yoruba-inflected insults, contrasted Fela’s historic struggle for societal freedom with what Wizkid portrayed as Seun’s fixation on online fan battles, with “fc” referring to Wizkid’s fanbase.
The reaction was quick and explosive. Screenshots of the posts were extensively shared, resulting in memes, arguments, and highly varied perspectives.
While Wizkid’s followers applauded the reaction as a long-overdue clapback, some accused the musician of going too far by dragging Fela’s family and legacy into an internet fight.
Seun Kuti responded shortly afterwards on Instagram, striking a more restrained tone as he told Wizkid: “Wahala Jam network!!! Just be yourself short man. You are also great.”
