Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti has made a passionate appeal for his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, to be respected as a singular legend, dismissing ongoing comparisons with contemporary artists like Wizkid. His comments come as he prepares to receive Fela’s posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
The statement follows a recent public spat between Wizkid and Femi’s brother, Seun Kuti, sparked by Wizkid’s claim of being “bigger” than the Afrobeat pioneer. Femi, who maintains cordial relationships with both parties, expressed disappointment that the debate even arose.
Speaking from Los Angeles, Femi emphasized that Fela’s legacy is beyond comparison. “Fela is our father and all, even the younger artists respect him. The Fela vs Wizkid controversy is not an issue that should be brought up. Fela is the musical and artistic template in Nigeria,” he stated.
He called for a definitive recognition of Fela’s unique place in music history. “So, Fela should just be put in a sector of his own and we just idolise and respect him. I don’t want to go into Seun and Wizkid’s matter because Seun is my brother and Wizkid is like a son to me. I just wished it did not arise,” Femi added, urging a focus on celebration rather than contentious comparisons.
Femi’s intervention aims to reframe the conversation around Fela’s legacy as the Grammy Awards prepare to honour the Afrobeat creator nearly three decades after his death—a symbolic moment given Fela’s historic criticism of Western institutions.
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