By Shola Adesina
LAGOS, Nigeria (chatnewstv.com) — Popular social commentator and TikTok star GehGeh has ignited a heated national debate after strongly criticizing modern music fans who compare contemporary Afrobeats stars to the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
In a viral video shared across his “University of Wisdom and Understanding” platforms, GehGeh questioned the historical literacy of fans who label Wizkid as the “new Fela.” He insisted that such comparisons ignore the immense personal sacrifice and political activism that defined Fela’s life.
“Are you guys comparing Wizkid to Fela? Do you know who Fela is?” GehGeh asked in the viral clip. “Everything Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy are benefiting from today is what Fela created. He built the foundation through sacrifice and resistance at a time when speaking out could cost you your life.”
The comments come at a time of heightened sensitivity surrounding the Anikulapo Kuti legacy. Just this week, Fela’s youngest son, Seun Kuti, blasted Wizkid’s fanbase—known as “Wizkid FC”—labeling their comparisons “disrespectful and ignorant.” Wizkid himself broke his silence on Tuesday, firing back at the Kuti family in a series of blunt social media posts, further polarizing the Nigerian music industry.
GehGeh argued that while modern stars have achieved unprecedented global commercial success, international tours, and Grammy recognitions, they operate in a pop-driven “Afrobeats” genre that is vastly different from Fela’s revolutionary “Afrobeat.”
“Fela was more than a musician; he was a movement,” GehGeh said. “Today’s artists are winning awards, but Fela was fighting military governments. You cannot measure that with streaming numbers.”
The debate has divided the Nigerian digital space. Supporters of GehGeh’s view argue that Fela’s impact on African identity and social consciousness is peerless. Meanwhile, fans of modern artists contend that Wizkid and his contemporaries deserve credit for taking Nigerian culture to the global mainstream.
As the Recording Academy prepares to posthumously honor Fela Kuti with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammys later this month, the debate underscores a growing generational divide over how greatness is defined in African music.
“Fela is the foundation,” GehGeh concluded. “While the modern stars shine globally, their light traces back to the fire he lit decades ago.”
