Seun Kuti and Aisha Yesufu engaged in a heated online dispute over women's liberation, with Kuti criticizing Yesufu's hijab while questioning her commitment to African identity. Yesufu retaliated by accusing Kuti of seeking relevance through her name, drawing on their family legacies to emphasize their conflicting viewpoints.
Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat musician, and activist Aisha Yesufu engaged in a fiery exchange on social media regarding women’s liberation. The dispute escalated after Seun shared details of a disagreement with Yesufu during a television appearance, where he criticized her position on women's rights.
He questioned Yesufu's commitment to women's liberation, particularly pointing out her choice to wear a hijab. Seun suggested that she should “liberate herself” from the hijab before advocating for the freedom of Nigerian women. He argued that adopting Christian or Muslim practices distances individuals from their African identity, emphasizing the need to embrace cultural roots.
“Yesufu wants to liberate Nigerian women while tied to her hijab. First, liberate yourself from that,” he stated, expressing his frustration over the perceived contradiction in her activism.
In response, Yesufu took to X (formerly Twitter), accusing Seun of seeking attention by targeting her. She further criticized Seun’s late father, Fela Kuti, implying that had he exhibited greater restraint, the consequences of Seun's behavior might not have been as evident today.
“Seun Kuti wants to trend with my name because his music career isn’t thriving. If only his father had discipline, we wouldn’t have to deal with this,” she wrote, illustrating the personal nature of their conflict.
