Afrobeat musician and activist Seun Kuti has stirred fresh controversy after boldly declaring that social media is not the powerful tool many Nigerians believe it to be for driving real societal change.
In a viral video, the son of legendary musician Fela Kuti criticised the heavy reliance on online outrage and campaigns, arguing that they often fail to produce tangible results despite massive visibility.
Seun referenced the long-running “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign as a prime example of social media’s limitations.
“If you remember clearly, during the previous administration, we kept shouting ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ every day. From Jonathan to Buhari, the slogan continued. Even when Buhari came into office, the girls were still not returned.”
He noted how public discourse often turns against those who continue raising such issues:
“It later became a situation where if you bring it up, people will attack or insult you.”
The singer questioned Nigeria’s tendency to repeat the same strategies while expecting different outcomes:
“As usual, in Nigeria, we keep repeating the same approach and expecting a different result.”
Seun Kuti further challenged the perceived power of digital platforms:
“Social media is not as powerful as many people think it is. If social media truly had the power people believe it has, governments would not allow unrestricted access to it.”
He highlighted how platforms are controlled and censored:
“Social media is regulated and controlled. Algorithms can suppress content. My last video had its audio removed, and I returned to post again, but the post was restricted.”
Concluding his message, the artist warned against over-reliance on online efforts:
“So, in reality, what we think we are achieving by simply making videos online is not enough.”
This latest statement from Seun Kuti adds to his reputation for unfiltered views on politics, governance, and activism in Nigeria.