I’ve been sidelined in the music industry for 13 years – Seun Kuti

Grammy-nominated Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti has revealed that he has been sidelined in the Nigerian music industry for over a decade because of the nature of his music

Speaking on a recent episode of the Saleh Meditate podcast, the singer said his brand of conscious music, inspired by his father Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s legacy of activism through sound, has contributed to him being shut out of mainstream opportunities.

According to him, the government’s response to socially conscious artists has shaped the direction of the industry over the years.

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.

“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.”

Despite his claims of being blacklisted locally, Seun Kuti maintained that it has had little impact on his career, stating that Nigeria represents only a small portion of his global audience.