I've been musically blacklisted for 13 years - Seun Kuti
Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti claims he has been blacklisted in Nigeria’s music industry for about 13 years due to his outspoken, protest-driven style. Speaking on the Selah Meditate podcast,
Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti claims he has been blacklisted in Nigeria’s music industry for about 13 years due to his outspoken, protest-driven style.
Speaking on the Selah Meditate podcast, the son of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti accused successive Nigerian governments of promoting artists who avoid social commentary while marginalising conscious musicians who critique bad governance.
Kuti said the impact of Fela and his contemporaries frightened authorities by showing them the influence of artistic expression.
That fear, he argued, led the government to invest more in non-political artists.
He further traced the escalation of restrictions on his music to a performance at an event hosted by former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, after which his work faced heavy limitations. He added that the pattern of suppression began even earlier.
Kuti said he does not hold back his views when in Nigeria, and that stance has contributed to his cancellation for over a decade.
He maintained that the blacklisting had limited impact on his career because Nigeria accounts for only a small share of his overall fanbase and market.
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He said, “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.
“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.”
He added that many contemporary musicians avoid political or social commentary out of fear of similar repercussions, especially those whose audience is mostly local.
