Nigerian singer and activist Seun Kuti has weighed in on the ongoing “Japa” conversation, arguing that the growing desire to leave Nigeria is largely driven by poverty.
The outspoken artist made the remarks during a recent livestream, where he claimed that many Nigerians who focus on migrating abroad do so because of harsh economic realities.
According to Seun, poverty plays a major role in shaping people’s mindsets and decisions, including the belief that leaving the country is the only path to a better life.
During the session, Seun also took a swipe at Wizkid’s fan base, popularly known as FC, describing them in unflattering terms. He suggested that their thinking and ideologies are influenced by their socio-economic background, linking this directly to their support for the idea of “japa.”
In his words:
“Most of these FC are poor. They are poor children that grew up in poor homes. I cannot blame you because if you grew up in a poor home in Nigeria, there is no how your brain is fully formed. The biggest example of people who grew up in poor homes are the people that believe in Japa. If you believe in japa, it’s because you grew up in a poor home. There’s nobody who grew up in a better house who will japa. You can travel and come back.”
Seun’s comments have since sparked heated reactions online, with many Nigerians pushing back against his views, while others debate his broader argument about poverty, migration, and the realities facing young people in the country.
“Most of these FC are children that grew up in poor homes… The biggest examples of people who grew up in poor home are people wey believe in ‘japa’. Anybody wey japa grew up in a poor home.”
– Seun Kuti pic.twitter.com/z9fNUSG4yo
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) February 9, 2026