Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has opened up about being blacklisted in Nigeria’s music industry for over a decade. In a recent appearance on the Saleh Meditate podcast, the singer revealed that his conscious style of music has led to him being sidelined for roughly 13 years.
Kuti explained that his father, the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and his peers used music as a tool for social and political protest, which made the government fearful. As a result, authorities invested heavily in artists who avoided reality-based themes, while suppressing those who spoke truth to power.
He stated: “The impact of Fela and his contemporaries, who spoke truth to power, scared the government. They realized the power of artistry. So, the government invested more in artists who don’t make conscious music than artists who sing about realities.”
The singer acknowledged that being blacklisted in Nigeria does not significantly affect him, as his fanbase extends far beyond the country. He noted: “I have been canceled 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. People think I’m not canceled because I’m doing well. Nigeria has canceled me for a long time, but Nigeria is just a small percentage of my market. So, being canceled doesn’t really affect me.”
Kuti added that artists who fear being blacklisted are those whose primary audience is in Nigeria. He emphasized that he continues to speak his mind without fear, despite the industry’s attempts to silence him.