“even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons - Politics

“even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons - Politics - Nairaland

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“even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by lagostrendboy(op): 8:19am On Jan 22

Former senator and journalist Babafemi Ojudu has criticised ongoing comparisons between contemporary Nigerian musicians and late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing such parallels as misguided, superficial, and historically inaccurate. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

Ojudu’s comments come amid the recent public feud involving Wizkid and Seun Kuti, Fela’s son, which has reignited debates over artistic greatness, cultural legacy, and historical impact within Nigeria’s music industry.

Writing on his Facebook page, Ojudu described Fela as far more than a musician, portraying him as a movement, a revolution, and the moral conscience of a nation who fearlessly confronted military dictatorships and systemic oppression in Nigeria.

According to the former lawmaker, Fela’s legacy cannot be measured by chart success or global fame alone. He recalled that the Afrobeat icon endured over 200 arrests, imprisonment, torture, and exile in his relentless resistance against injustice, corruption, and state violence.

Ojudu noted that Fela’s music gave birth to Afrobeat, a genre now studied in universities worldwide, sampled by global superstars, and performed on some of the world’s biggest stages.

“Is it true that a Nigerian youngster said he is greater than Fela? I sincerely hope he was misquoted,” Ojudu wrote.
“Even if he were to live ten lifetimes, his art and his life could not measure up to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.”

He further highlighted Fela’s role as a fearless dissenter, recalling how the musician stood alone against military rule, using music as a weapon against oppression despite repeated arrests and brutal repression.

Ojudu referenced the destruction of the Kalakuta Republic, the death of Fela’s mother at the hands of state forces, and the repeated assaults he suffered from security agencies, stressing that none of these ordeals broke his spirit or silenced his voice.

“For any young person—musician or not—to compare himself to Fela, he must first walk the corridors of Nigerian jailhouses, endure exile, and still return with his creative spirit intact,” he added.

The former senator also praised Fela’s musical brilliance, describing him as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and cultural theorist who fused jazz, highlife, funk, Yoruba rhythms, and political poetry into a sound that remains timeless and unmatched.

Ojudu’s remarks have since sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians weighing in on the ongoing debate over legacy, activism, and what true greatness in music represents.

https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/01/22/ojudu-blasts-wizkid-fela-comparisons/

cc: Mynd44 , Nlfpmod , Seun

2 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by stuffs2002: 9:40am On Jan 22

I have a lot respect for the late Fela the Afrobeat legend but truth be told WizKid is greater than Fela because he has achieved all that Fela failed to achieve in life.

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by yemmight(m): 10:32am On Jan 22

These Genzies eh, the future hold nothing.

7 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by Saao(m): 10:39am On Jan 22

if you read th article, I'm sure you will delete your post. Fela is not only a musician, an activist, revolution etc, he single handedly fought military, to the point that he was jailed over 200 times, mother was killed because of the same thing. That boy wizkid is a kid.

9 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by reddingtonblack: 10:45am On Jan 22

Good, can you please share what wizkid has achieve that fela cant if he were to be alive

5 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by mrvitalis(m): 11:01am On Jan 22

Outside being an activist base on pure music Fela is not in top 20 of his time

Musically Fela was very very poor, the message was just what drove his career

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by SpaceX: 11:09am On Jan 22

Fela has a museum in his name, is that not a legend? Can wizkid show us his own?

5 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by Sweetberry123: 11:09am On Jan 22

I actually didn't want to comment on this but it breaks my heart to know that anyone will compare Wizkid to Fela. I don't want to even talk about activism. Musically Fela was a god, he made his own music. Wizkid is just a singer can he even play one single instrument huh

Go online and listen to what Paul McCartney said of Felas music. Oh I forgot, these idiots probably don't know who Paul McCartney is. They do not even know what music is. Go and listen to the instrumentals of LOOK AND LAUGH, listen to that heavenly musical composition. In fact may thunder smite those who compare Wizkid with Fela! Wizkid is just a singer, Fela is the music himself.

7 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by Kemetian: 12:17pm On Jan 22

Haba! Don't you know Wizkid wears big gold chains on his neck and drives exotic cars, so in his empty head he's "bigger than Fela"?

That is the shallow, ignorant excuse for a human being he is.

6 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by Kemetian: 12:22pm On Jan 22

Do you know James Brown and his band used to fly down to Lagos to sit down in Shrine and watch Fela perform?

They were interviewed once, and they were like "this is the baddest groove we ever heard."

They even released an album that definitely was influenced by their Shrine visits.

3 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by Wallade(m): 12:32pm On Jan 22

Please list Wiz kid's achievements

1 Like

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by Wallade(m): 12:33pm On Jan 22

The person you responded to is also a kid, it is very obvious that he knows little or nothing about Fela Anikulapoti.

4 Likes

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by reddingtonblack: 12:35pm On Jan 22

when fela was travelling in and out of Europe where Wizlid father go

when Fela bought benz cut the roof nd was using it to carry ewedu .... weytin wizkid papa n mama dey drive

Maybe wizkid dont know is father and mother watch Fela as a superstar

Lastly, If Fela was still alive no musician in Nig. we have more grammy than Fela

wizkid should die 1st let see what he will be honoured after 20yrs with the kind of music they sing, big yansh, find gurl no pimple, a ma jaiye , joro joro joro joro !

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by davillian(m): 12:52pm On Jan 22

definably Genz or GenAI

1 Like

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by davillian(m): 1:02pm On Jan 22

you should only compare fela with people
who fought for freedom
who fought mititary dictatorship
who faught for the right of his people
who fought against oppression
who fought for democracy.....
no Nigerian artist can even try this even in democracy rule grin

...

1 Like

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by hegelian: 1:09pm On Jan 22

people confuse music with song...someone that make music should be able to read music, plat instrument and then perform...wizkid is a singer not a musician and comparing him to fela is a serious of ignorance

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Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by Dogalmighty17: 1:14pm On Jan 22

This is simply embarrassing to wizboy. It isn't enough that he calls the stale tripe he sings 'music' or maybe to him it is. But to say he is better than Fela? That's a joke taken too far. The truth is Wizchild was just fortunate to catch the crest of the Nigerian music wave as it began sweeping the globe. If it is this current era that that stunted adult entered the music scene, he wouldn't cut it.
The younger acts on the scene are far better and deeper with their quality of music. How long can a music act keep harping on ' my baby', 'my girl', 'my money'? All his songs revolve around these. Na musician be dat?

His arrogance has robbed him of the ability to feel ashamed for the low quality slop he keeps pushing out.

1 Like

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by RISQUE: 1:25pm On Jan 22

Kid on the loose.

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Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by mecuries(m): 1:51pm On Jan 22

This is Paul McCartney from the Beetles paying a visit to Fela in Lagos. Do you have an idea who the Beetles were?

1 Like

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by ambale(m): 1:53pm On Jan 22

Fela would easily rank in the top 100 of the greatest Africans but I'm not sure Wizkid can come in in top 1k sef

How can you compare such??

1 Like

Re: “even In 10 Lifetimes, You Can’t Be Fela” — Ojudu Blasts Wizkid Comparisons by commoditiesnig(m): 4:06pm On Jan 22

Wow.. didn’t know Paul McCartney visited Fela in Nigeria... truly the “ABAMIEDA”

Fela no bi anybody mate!

1 Reply

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