By Milcah Tanimu

Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has revealed that his father, the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, did not primarily target the Nigerian government with his activism, as widely believed. Instead, Fela’s battle was against the wealthy elites of Nigeria.

Fela, famous for using his music to criticize societal ills and corruption, has long been viewed as a staunch opponent of bad governance. However, in a recent episode of the ‘Zero Conditions’ podcast, Seun Kuti clarified that his father’s true adversaries were the rich individuals who controlled the country.

“People often misunderstand my family’s legacy,” Seun explained. He recounted a personal story where even he believed in a myth about his father owning a Benz with a chopped roof, only to discover that Fela himself was shocked by the tale.

Seun emphasized that Fela’s music directly challenged the wealthy class rather than the government, citing songs like “Lady,” “Swegbe and Akpako,” “Ikoyi Blindness,” and “Ikoyi versus Mushin” as examples of his father’s critique of Nigeria’s rich.

According to Seun, the alliance between the wealthy and the government led to both physical and reputational attacks on Fela. While the government targeted him with violence, the rich used media propaganda to portray him negatively, making the public more accepting of the harsh treatments he endured.