Controversial Afrobeat musician and activist Seun Kuti has ignited a storm of reactions after declaring that the sacrifices of African liberation icons like his father Fela Kuti, Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, Kwame Nkrumah, and Steve Biko mean more to him than the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Seun Kuti drew a direct comparison between the importance and value of the deaths of these historical figures and the crucifixion of Jesus.
“I tell people that the sacrifice of Lumumba is greater to me than the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because Jesus knew he’d wake up three days later and if I know I’d wake up after dying too, death wouldn’t be so difficult. But you see the people that died for me? Lumumba, Sankara, my father, Nkrumah, Steve Biko — these people died and they knew they were never going to wake up and they still went ahead and died. That is what I stand on. That kind of sacrifice.”
Seun framed the speech around the urgent need for the poor and oppressed to rise up.
“The poor have been silent for too long, we need to help them find their voices.”
He called for courage and collective action, urging Nigerians not to remain afraid.
“Listen my people, We cannot be afraid anymore. Our mission is liberation. We must liberate ourself from the hands of these people.”
He pushed for systemic change, demanding the redistribution of national wealth.
“The wealth of this country must be redistributed into our schools, hospitals, roads, research and development that’ll create modern jobs that’ll meet the potential of this generation, and housing.”
Seun also spoke about his deep understanding of those in power, referencing the suffering his own family has endured.
“We have to understand their minds. I’ve studied them. They decimated my family so we know them well. We faced like no one else has single-handedly done in this country so we know what’s going on in their heads.”
He added that the powerful have dehumanised ordinary citizens for too long and called for resistance.
“They’ve dehumanized us for so long, they believe we’re all animals. We have to prove to them that we’re humans. It is not their job to secure our humanity, it is ours. So please, as from today, no matter what they come with, stand your ground.”
The remarks have triggered intense debate online, with many criticising Seun Kuti for what they see as blasphemy, while others praised his unfiltered call for social justice and accountability.
Seun, known for his activism and frequent criticism of the Nigerian government, has a long history of using his platform to address issues of inequality, corruption and human rights.