Seun Kuti slams Wizkid fans, says Fela paid him $120,000 from the grave

Afrobeats singer and activist Seun Kuti has reignited debate around legacy, originality, and respect in Nigerian music after revealing that he recently received $120,000 purely for being the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Speaking during an Instagram Live session, Seun made the disclosure while responding to fans of Wizkid over a simmering dispute surrounding the nickname “Big Bird.” The controversy began after a Wizkid fan urged Seun to drop the moniker, arguing that Wizkid is now the “Biggest Bird.” Seun flatly rejected the suggestion, insisting the name had been associated with him long before the global star’s rise.

“Wizkid stole my name,” Seun said bluntly, challenging the singer to come up with something original. He stressed that he would not abandon an identity he claims to have used for years simply to appease fan rivalries.

The exchange quickly escalated beyond nicknames, touching on the sensitive issue of comparisons between Wizkid and Seun’s late father, Fela. Seun accused members of Wizkid’s team, including DJ Tunez, of tacitly encouraging such comparisons by failing to shut them down, warning that he would confront them directly if given the chance.

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In one of the most striking moments of the livestream on Wednesday, Seun revealed that he had received about $120,000 nearly three decades after Fela’s death, describing it as a direct benefit of his father’s enduring global legacy. “My father died over 29 years ago, and I received it,” he said, adding that Fela is “still blessing me from the grave.”

Seun used the moment to underline the long-term value of cultural impact over chart success, arguing that true greatness continues to yield returns long after death. His comments framed legacy not just as artistic influence, but as tangible economic power.

He said, “I recently received about $120,000 simply because I am Fela’s son; it is not my work. My father has died over 29 years from the grave, and I received it,” adding that his father is still blessing him from the grave.

“How many of your fathers from the grave can send you $120,000 from the grave? You think you can just open your mouth… No of your fathers has accomplished… You don’t know what it means to be the child of someone who accomplished something”.

The remarks have since sparked intense reactions online, with supporters applauding Seun’s unapologetic defense of his lineage, while critics accuse him of leaning too heavily on his father’s name. Either way, the episode has once again highlighted how deeply Fela’s shadow still looms over Nigeria’s music industry—and how fiercely his son is prepared to protect it.

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