At first glance, it looks like just another celebrity feud with two Nigerian music icons, Wizkid and Seun Kuti, trading insults online and firing shots through their fanbases. But make no mistake, this is not about whose latest track is hotter or who sells more records. The truth is deeper and more complicated. This fight is about legacy, respect, and who gets to define greatness in Nigerian music.
The tension ignited in January 15, 2026 when Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, publicly criticised fans of Wizkid aka Wizkid FC, for calling him the “modern Fela.” “Stop calling Wizkid the new Fela,” Seun said on Instagram Live. “It is disrespectful to my father’s legacy and completely misleading.” He argued that comparing commercial success with Fela’s revolutionary impact ignores history and undermines the weight of his father’s cultural influence.
Wizkid, one of Africa’s most streamed artists with a global fanbase, eventually responded on social media, insisting he is “bigger than your papa” and mocking Seun’s warnings. What started as fan-driven chatter turned into a very public clash, but at its core, it’s not music that’s under dispute. It is more about meaning, power, and the way Nigerian music history is remembered.
When Fan Wars Turned Into a Feud
The feud escalated because of Wizkid FC, the singer’s devoted fanbase. Seun repeatedly called out the fans for dragging Fela’s name into online debates, calling them “the most ignorant fanbase in the world.” According to him, the comparisons of Wizkid to his father diminish the historical and political significance of Fela’s work. “Wizkid FC, keep Fela’s name out of your mouths,” Seun warned.
Fans, of course, pushed back. Many argued that celebrating Wizkid’s global reach and influence doesn’t disrespect Fela, but rather highlights how far Nigerian music has come. The online debate quickly snowballed into viral posts, memes, and videos, making the feud a cultural spectacle rather than just an argument between two men.
Before this battle erupted, there had been other smaller flashpoints between Seun and Wizkid’s fanbase. Days ago, Seun humorously claimed that Wizkid had “stolen” his long-used nickname “Big Bird”, urging fans not to confuse the branding.
Wizkid Responds And Things Get Personal
After days of growing tension, Wizkid finally broke his silence on January 20, 2026, taking the feud out of the hands of fans and directly addressing Seun Kuti on social media. What followed wasn’t just a defense of his reputation, but a series of increasingly personal attacks that shocked many observers.
Wizkid started by reposting a viral video on his Instagram Story of a woman speaking in Yoruba, who strongly defended Wizkid’s success and criticized Seun’s behaviour. In the clip, she lambasted the Afrobeat singer for obsessing over comparisons and acting irrationally for “seven days and seven nights.”
The woman suggested that if it weren’t for Wizkid’s influence, younger audiences might not even be talking about Fela’s legacy today. She questioned Seun’s conduct and asked rhetorically why his family had not stepped in to calm him down.
Shortly after sharing the clip, Wizkid dropped a series of now‑deleted Instagram Stories and X (formerly Twitter) posts aimed directly at Seun. He harshly dismissed Seun’s complaints and declared he is “bigger than your papa”, in direct comparison to Fela Kuti’s towering legacy.
One of his posts read, “Pussy boy @bigbirdkuti ok I big pass your papa!! Wetin u one do? Fool at 40!!”, while another tweet stated, “Fela fight for freedom this fool dey fight fc! Oloshi omo ale!”
In some of the most controversial moments, Wizkid pushed the argument even further into personal territory. Wizkid tweeted, “Everyday Wizkid! I fu*k ur ugly wife? Wetin!”
Wizkid’s choice of language sparked controversy online because of his direct shot at Seun’s dignity and family. Even American rapper Sean John Combs aka Diddy and Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy, got caught in the exchange.
The clash moved from music or legacy discussions, and into public shaming and personal jabs.
Seun Kuti Strikes Back
After Wizkid’s explosive social media posts, the feud took a new turn when Seun Kuti fired back at the superstar. Rather than escalate with similar insults, Seun responded with a mix of direct rebuttal, self‑affirmation, and a reminder of who he is as an artist and cultural figure. His reply made it clear that he would not be dragged into a personal war, even as the other side made it personal.
In a now‑viral post that circulated widely on X and Instagram on January 20, Seun addressed Wizkid directly. He acknowledged the insult where Wizkid had called him a “fool at 40” and claimed to be “bigger than your papa”.
Seun responded: “Just be yourself short man. You are also great. U go delete now, u no get mind. Who is the pu$$y now beech!!!”.
He leaned into the idea that both Fela and Wizkid are successful in their own right, and that the real issue shouldn’t be about insulting one another but about staying true to identity. In his words, he suggested that Wizkid’s initial post would soon be deleted. According to fans, this prediction came true shortly after.
Seun also hit back at Wizkid for throwing jabs at him about Fela’s pants (briefs) which CNN wrote about in November 2025 and his linkup with Diddy some years ago.
Motunrayo Kuti’s Take
As the back-and-forth between Wizkid and Seun Kuti unfolded online, the public feud drew another high-profile voice from the Kuti family: Motunrayo Kuti, daughter of the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and sister to Seun. Her response, which came hours after Wizkid and Seun’s clash reached the peak, didn’t just support her brother, it escalated the conversation into deeply personal territory in defence of her father’s legacy.
Motunrayo’s video quickly went viral. In it, she challenged one of the most explosive lines Wizkid used during his social media comeback where he claimed to be bigger than Fela. She questioned the idea that Wizkid could ever outshine Fela, and then took the debate beyond music into family history.
“Wizkid is bigger than Fela, abi?” she asked rhetorically, before turning the same comparison on Wizkid himself. “Wizkid, you are also bigger than your father, that useless father, that one wey abandon you and your mama wey don die so,” Motunrayo said, referring to Wizkid’s dad, Muniru Olatunji Balogun.
Her words were sharp and blunt, and she didn’t mince them: “You are also bigger than your uselessfather. As you are bigger than our own father.” Driving home a larger point that Fela’s cultural impact remains unmatched no matter how big contemporary fame might seem, she added: “Our father Fela is now bigger than your father… Yes, Fela big pass those two.”
Reacting to Motunrayo’s words, some netizens praised her for boldly defending Fela’s legacy, and others criticised the personal nature of her remarks especially the way she brought Wizkid’s parents into the conversation.
Why This Feud Has Resonated
At its core, this conflict isn’t about new music versus old music, or who sells more records. Instead, it represents a clash of cultural values. Wizkid is one of the biggest contemporary Nigerian artists alive today. He has global hits and millions of fans around the world. That kind of success, especially when his followers point to it as evidence of greatness became a central point of debate.
But Seun Kuti’s argument is not about Wizkid’s talent. It’s about the meaning and weight of Fela’s legacy. Fela Kuti is a towering figure in African music because he used his music not just to entertain but to challenge power, fight for social justice, and define a uniquely political cultural identity. Seun says that comparing commercial success with that legacy risks turning a revolutionary figure into a pop culture reference point.
Wizkid’s fans, on the other hand, believe that celebrating their favorite artist’s success and influence is a natural part of fan culture. They argue that modern Afrobeats stars like Wizkid have put African music on the global map and helped draw attention back to legends like Fela.
Where Things Stand
For now, it appears that Seun Kuti is not backing down. His ongoing “seven-day” run of Instagram Stories suggests he is determined to keep pressing his point of what he sees as a duty to protect his father’s legacy. Through sarcasm, commentary, and pointed remarks, Seun has continued to stress that while Wizkid is undeniably great in his own right, comparing him to Fela misses the point entirely.
In Seun’s view, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was not just another popular or successful artist. He is the principal innovator of Afrobeat and, more importantly, was a political activist whose music challenged power, confronted oppression, and shaped cultural consciousness far beyond entertainment. That difference, Seun insists, is not something streams, fame, or fan enthusiasm can erase.
Wizkid, on the other hand, is known for rarely responding to online criticism. His decision to speak out on Tuesday shocked many precisely because it went against his usual silence. Having already caused a stir with his words, he may now choose to let the conversation die down rather than fuel it further.
Whether the feud cools off or continues to evolve, it is certain the debate it has sparked will linger.
And once again, it proves the central truth of this moment: this was never about music.