SEUN KUTI CLAIMS HE HAS FACED A 13-YEAR BLACKLIST WITHIN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

Grammy-nominated Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti has alleged that he has been blacklisted in the Nigerian music industry for about 13 years because of the nature of his music.

He explained that his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and other contemporaries used music as a tool for protest against bad governance, which, according to him, led the government to channel more support toward non-conscious artists while sidelining those who address societal issues.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Saleh Meditate podcast, Kuti said government interference has had a negative impact on the quality and influence of contemporary Nigerian music.

However, he noted that being blacklisted in Nigeria does not affect him significantly, stressing that the country represents only a small portion of his overall audience.

He said, “The impact of Fela and his contemporaries who spoke truth to power scared the government. They made the government realize the power of artistry. So, the government invested more in artists who don’t make conscious music than artists who sing about realities.

“When I am in Nigeria, I don’t fear to say whatever I want to say. That is why a lot of people are saying that I should be cancelled. 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.

“I have been cancelled for long. People think I am not cancelled because I am doing well. Nigeria has cancelled me a long time ago, but Nigeria is just a really small percentage of my market. So, being cancelled doesn’t really affect me.”

He further added that artists who fear being blacklisted are mostly those whose fanbase is heavily dependent on the Nigerian market.