Grammy-nominated Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti has revealed that he believes he has been sidelined in Nigeria’s music industry for roughly 13 years because of the politically conscious nature of his music.
According to him, the legacy of his father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and other artists who used music to challenge authority made the government wary of socially conscious musicians. He argued that this led to increased support for artists whose content avoids political or social criticism.
Kuti made these remarks during a recent episode of the Saleh Meditate podcast, where he also claimed that government involvement has played a role in shaping the direction and substance of contemporary Nigerian music.
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Despite this alleged blacklisting, he noted that it has had little impact on his career, explaining that his audience extends far beyond Nigeria.
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.
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“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 further explained that musicians who worry about being blacklisted often do so because Nigeria represents the largest share of their audience.
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