Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti asserted that he stands alone among Nigerian musicians in refusing to allow people to spray him with currency bills during performances.
He further alleged that many artists, particularly Fuji musicians, resort to praising individuals in their melodies during shows in hopes of being showered with money.
Kuti’s assertions come amid the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) efforts to clamp down on the misuse of the Nigerian currency, the Naira.
Speaking in a video message shared via his Instagram account, he said: “I don’t even like to be sprayed. I’m the only artist that stops people from spraying me. Even my dad, the legendary Fela didn’t prevent people from spraying him but he demanded the denominations he wanted to be sprayed.
“Nobody wey Sunny Ade never sing for so he can be sprayed. Everybody name. KWAM 1 … eh eh. It is the politicians that made spraying a standard behaviour.”
I'm the only artiste that stops people from spraying him
– Seun Kuti pic.twitter.com/8rdS3OYbul
— 🐬 @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) April 21, 2024
In a recent viral video, Kuti argued that simply arresting these scammers won’t solve Nigeria’s deeper problems. He emphasized that even if every single Yahoo boy in Nigeria were arrested today, it wouldn’t bring about meaningful change. Kuti suggested that these scams are symptomatic of larger issues within Nigerian society, such as lack of opportunity or economic hardship.
Furthermore, Kuti questioned why more attention isn’t directed towards the corrupt officials who siphon off billions of dollars from the country’s oil revenue. His remarks highlight the systemic issues and inequalities that persist in Nigeria.
This isn’t the first time Seun Kuti has used his platform to speak out about social issues in Nigeria. As the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Seun is known for his socially conscious music and activism, continuing his father’s legacy of advocating for social justice and change.