Seun Kuti, the last child of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has been in the news for allegedly assaulting a police officer who is now said to be in coma.

The incident, which took place on May 15, has continued to elicit intense outrage. The singer has also turned himself in to the police after being placed under arrest.

For long, Seun’s antics and activism have seen many likening him to Fela, his father.

Seun has since been a strong fan of his father’s musical and political heroics. In his heyday, Fela, a spirited freedom fighter and activist, was a nemesis to the government.

He constantly spoke truth to power and fought societal ills such as corruption, human rights abuses among others through his music.

The late Afrobeat patriarch’s songs were packed with social and political messages. He was known for being vocal against the oppression of the military government in the late 70’s, 80’s and 90’s with songs which resonates with the people till this day including ‘Zombie’ and ‘V.I.P’.

Fela also took strikes against world powers with songs like ‘Beasts of No Nation’. The legend who was arrested 200 times due to his activism believed that it was for a good course.

In a 1986 interview with SPIN magazine, Fela said: “I believe in higher forces. I believe that suffering has a purpose. I cannot suffer like this for no reason. I’m not working for any selfish reason or ulterior motives. I’m working for the improvement of my fellow man.”

Like his father, Seun has toed a similar path. He joined his father’s band just at the age of nine. In November 2020, he also led the revival of Movement of the People, the political party founded by his late father, with the goal of giving power back to the masses.

Seun has always seen himself more of an activist than a musician. “I am a revolutionary first, and a musician second…if I had to choose one or the other, that is…,” he declared in an interview.

Read More: https://www.crispng.com/analysis-seun-kutis-assault-saga-shows-he-needs-character-to-be-like-fela/