Seun Kuti hits back at Wizkid FC, defending his “Big Bird” nickname and Fela’s legacy amid a heated fan dispute online
Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has publicly confronted fans of Grammy-winning singer Wizkid, known as Wizkid FC, following a social media dispute over the nickname “Big Bird” and repeated attempts to involve the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in online debates.
Also read: Seun Kuti accuses Wizkid of stealing his nickname
The controversy erupted after a Tuesday Instagram Live session in which a Wizkid fan urged Seun to change his nickname, citing Wizkid’s moniker as the “Biggest Bird.” Seun rejected the demand, asserting he had used the name long before Wizkid.
“Wizkid stole my name. Tell your fave to be original,” Seun said. “Why are you telling me to change my name? Sorry, I can’t change it. This name has been here since. I am the first to come up with it.”
Seun also criticised Wizkid and members of his team, including DJ Tunez, accusing them of ignoring repeated attacks on Fela’s legacy by some fans.
“If I see DJ Tunez again, I’ll confront him because he and his team are enjoying the Wizkid and Fela comparison instead of debunking it. I won’t even hug him,” he said.
During the livestream, Seun highlighted the enduring impact of Fela’s legacy. He revealed he recently received about $120,000 from his late father’s estate, stating, “My father has died over 29 years from the grave, and I received it… How many of your fathers from the grave can send you $120,000 from the grave?”
Seun stressed that his critique was not directed at Wizkid personally but at a fan culture that conflates noise with relevance and disrespects historical figures under the guise of praise.
He previously warned fans on Instagram to “keep Fela’s name out of your mouths” and emphasised that comparisons between Wizkid and Fela misunderstand the Afrobeat pioneer’s legacy, which was rooted in political resistance, social justice, and personal sacrifice.
The musician also challenged Wizkid FC to use their online influence for constructive purposes. “I’ll use four days to drag Wizkid FC.
They claim they’re over one million, so let them contribute ₦1,000 each for their fave. That’s ₦1 billion to build a school in Surulere on Wizkid’s behalf.
Dragging and disrespect is your power. All they do is insult people. Who raised you?” he said.
Also read: Wizkid makes history with 10 billion Spotify streams
Seun concluded by urging fans to focus on meaningful impact rather than online fan wars, asserting that true respect for Fela’s legacy demands more than superficial comparisons or social media noise.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
