Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has called on African governments to bar Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, from entering the continent. His remarks come in response to Badenoch’s controversial statements about Nigeria and her upbringing in the country.
Badenoch has reportedly described her experience in Nigeria as one marked by fear, insecurity, and corruption. The viewpoint has criticized well-known figures, among them Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, who accuses her of denigrating the nation.
During a recent Instagram live session, Kuti expressed his outrage at Badenoch’s comments, accusing her of insulting Africans and their ancestors. He further criticized her for suggesting that Africans owe reparations to Europeans for colonialism, which to him was deeply offensive given the atrocities committed during those times.
Kuti then called on African countries to take action and declare Badenoch a persona non grata on the continent. He even went as far as to say that if she ever tried to come to Africa, she should be put in prison.
This development adds to the ongoing discourse of African identity, colonial history, and the stories that shape images of the continent.
