I Have Been Blacklisted For 13 Years, Says Seun Kuti

Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti has claimed that he has been blacklisted in the Nigerian music industry for 13 years because of his conscious music.

The musician stated that government and industry stakeholders often sideline artists who speak out against poor governance. According to him, the authorities prefer to support artists who do not sing about the country’s realities.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Saleh Meditate podcast, Kuti explained that his music faced heavy restrictions after he performed at an event for a former Lagos State Governor.

“I have been cancelled for about 13 years now. People think I am not cancelled because I am doing well, but Nigeria is just a small percentage of my market,” he said.

The son of the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti noted that the government realised the power of music through his father’s legacy and began investing in “vain artists” to drown out protest songs.

He added that many modern artists are afraid to be blacklisted because they rely mostly on Nigerian fans for their income. However, he stressed that his international fanbase has kept him successful despite the local restrictions.