June 29, (THEWILL) – Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, says bloggers are Nigeria’s third-biggest problem after politicians and insecurity.
THEWILL recalls that there were reports in some quarters of the media that Seun downplayed Wizkid’s Grammy award win because it was anchored on the singer’s participation in Beyonce’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’ music video.
However, in a chat with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, on “Rubbin’ Minds,” the Afrobeat singer blamed the reports on the media which he accused of “creating conflict where there is none.”
“I didn’t bring [the Wizkid argument] up. The media did. After politicians; kidnappers and bandits, Nigeria’s third-biggest problems are bloggers. The media creating conflict where there is none for their personal benefit.
“It’s sinister. Even when we look at the disunity in Nigeria, the southerners who control the media in this country have been able to convince the young people that the problem is not their excesses but that of the northerners.
“They bring the divisive narrative into every aspect of our lives, from friendships to the personal and professional relationships between colleagues, artistes, communities. You have to applaud them if that’s how they want to eat in Africa.”
Seun, who is the son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, also disclosed that the media “misrepresent my dad for 58 years.”
“Wizkid is a Grammy winner; nothing changes that for his music video. I was talking about music, like only four musicians have had their music nominated. No amount of Buhari’s children’s wailing can change that.
“I have a friend who won a Grammy, 20 years ago. He engineered a big hip-hop album and he’s a Nigerian.
“The Grammys is so wide. I was talking about music and everyone wanted to [come at me]. Maybe, in their mind, they wanted to shade Wizkid and wanted to use me to achieve it. We can’t allow their negative narrative to flourish.
“I saw the media misrepresent my dad for 58 years. If Nigeria’s media got to the extent that they knew they had a big interest in Nigeria’s stability and the consciousness of young people, a lot of things would not happen.”
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