Media personality Yeni Kuti, daughter of the late Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has criticised contemporary musicians who place themselves in comparison with her father, insisting that such arguments fail to understand the true meaning of legacy.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Yeni made the remarks shortly after joining other members of the Kuti family to receive Fela’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
She noted that Fela’s influence remains undeniable nearly three decades after his death.
According to her, modern artistes should honour Fela’s contributions rather than attempting to undermine his impact through comparisons.
“Don’t compare chalk and cheese. Fela is a legend, give him his flowers. He has done his part,” she said.
Yeni further stressed that Fela’s lasting relevance already answers any debate about greatness. “If you are still talking about him 29 years after his death and you’re comparing yourself with him, you’re not a dead man walking. So, comparing yourself with him is not a good thing,” she added.
She advised musicians to focus on healthy competition within their generation, saying, “Compare yourself with your peers and leave our legends alone. We have legends, let’s respect them.”
Her comments come amid recent controversy sparked by singer Wizkid, who drew criticism online after stating that he is “bigger” than Fela while responding to remarks made by Seun Kuti about him and his fans over ongoing comparisons between the Ojuelegba crooner and the Afrobeat pioneer.
