- Afrobeats singer Seun Kuti has made claims about how Nigeria is seen negatively abroad
- The musician compared the country’s political leaders to internet scammers, popularly known as Yahoo guys
- During an appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast, Kuti further explained how a country is judged globally, triggering reactions online
Afrobeat musician and activist Seun Kuti shared a blunt perspective on why Nigerians are not respected globally.
During a recent interview on The Honest Bunch podcast, Kuti dismissed the commonly held belief that Nigerians face global disrespect because of “Yahoo boys.”
Seun Kuti questions morality of Nigerian elite, sparks backlash.
Credit: @bgbirdkutiSource: Instagram
The saxophonist placed the blame squarely on the country’s political elite.
“Oh, because of Yahoo boys, they don’t respect Nigerians?” he said. “This narrative we accept about our society is wrong. We know fully well that the only reason nobody respects Nigeria is because of our politicians.”
According to Kuti, the global view of a country is not shaped by its worst citizens, but by the conduct of its most prominent figures—in the case of Nigeria, its politicians.
“Nobody judges a country by the worst people in it. Every country in this world is judged by the behaviour of the best people—the most prominent people,” he explained. “It is when they see the behaviour of our prominent people that they form their opinion about Nigeria.”
Watch him speak below:
Seun Kuti’s view on politicians trended online
Kuti’s remarks sparked conversation on social media, with many Nigerians agreeing with him.
TheTalk.NG compiled the reactions below:
maxieuwa said:
“Seun too get sense like him papa.”
babakent said:
“They diminish us with their existence.”
bigstonerman said:
“I just watch this podcast finish Omo knowledge Dey cry 😢.”
dhanear11 said:
“Gone are the days when u submit cv and go fr interviews…they want everybody to be TikToker or create ur own job..Nnpc no de employ again.”
mike_eddiison said:
“God bless all the kuti family. Na only them get truth for mouth.”
itunujoe said:
“Dunno o but I had multi city trips last few days and everything was so demure until my final trip which was to come back home. Right from the boarding gate, out of all the gates in the airport I was departing from, the one going to Nigeria was the only one without a normal queue. Everyone just park trying to get in. I was embarrassed because it was too sharp a contrast. This has nothing to do with leaders, or yahoo boys. We were in a foreign land and we could not form a simple queue. We have a fundamental problem!”
simon_chidi_arts said:
“🛑When do we STOP speaking to just make sense ❓❗And Start creating Systems that will Solve our Problems❓ I’ve been working on one of those SOLUTIONS ORIENTED SYSTEM . I’m tired of making sense just to be clapped for. Speaking to make sense is just BASIC – to an Advanced mind. ✌️.”
theonlydeepoe said:
“True! When leaders betray their people, the shame becomes everyone’s passport.”
youfoundamani said:
“You should know that regardless of what you believe God loves you and will save you from whatever turmoil is making you doubt yourself.”
jasmifootwearcollections said:
“Fact bro👊🏻👊🏻 some Oloriburuku go still comment say what saying doesn’t make sense. But you are saying the truth.”
Seun Kuti links global disrespect for Nigerians to failed leadership.
Credit: @bigbridkutiSource: Instagram
Seun Kuti claims artists launder money
According to a previous report by TheTalk.NG, Seun Kuti alleged that his colleagues in the Nigerian music industry might be into money laundering.
In a video shared by the artist, he noted that he had been touring for 20 years and still struggling to build a house.
He called on the youths to wake up and see the reality of life and the game many are playing just to survive.
Source: TheTalk.NG
