Dare Babalola
Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, has alleged that he has been blacklisted within Nigeria’s music industry for about 13 years because of his outspoken and politically charged style of music.
Kuti made the claim while speaking on the Selah Meditate podcast, where he accused successive governments of discouraging socially conscious music while promoting artists who avoid political commentary.
The son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti said the influence of his father and other activist musicians had historically unsettled authorities, leading to what he described as a shift in government support towards non-political entertainers.
“The impact of Fela and his contemporaries who spoke truth to power scared the government. They made the government realise the power of artistry. So, the government invested more in artists who don’t make conscious music than artists who sing about realities,” he said.
Kuti further claimed that restrictions on his music intensified after a performance at an event organised during the tenure of former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, adding that his style of expression had long attracted pushback.
According to him, he has remained unapologetic about his views, especially when in Nigeria, a stance he believes contributed to his alleged exclusion from mainstream industry platforms.
“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,” he said.
Despite the alleged blacklisting, Kuti said the impact on his career has been limited, noting that Nigeria represents only a small portion of his global audience.
He also argued that many contemporary artistes avoid political or social themes in their music due to fear of similar consequences, particularly those who depend heavily on the local market.
