Seun Kuti, in advance of his performance at #BarzakhFestival tomorrow is visiting NYUAD classes.
Seun Kuti says that too much modern music infantilizes audiences, focusing on superficial ideas rather than higher consciousness.
A student asks whether Seun Kuti feels artists can be separated from their art. He doesn’t believe you can.
Professor Sam Anderson asks about @felakuti’s legacy. “Nowadays it’s mainstream to be Woke”, even artists who formerly weren’t socially conscious.
“Where Fela engaged with the people was in the class struggle. He was very class conscious.” @RealSeunKuti at @NYUAbuDhabi
“True activist and political giant” is the real legacy of @felakuti says @RealSeunKuti. It’s not just about his larger than life “rock star” lifestyle of the 70s.
Nobody “invented” Afrobeat. Everything already exists. We just don’t understand it until someone decodes it. Invention is a capitalist narrative. - @RealSeunKuti
Seun Kuti introduces Frantz Fanon and negritude and #blackexcellence into the conversation, but argues that it can be irresponsible. Responsibility to one’s people is key.
Seun Kuti’s conversation ranges from the creation of Nigeria by Europeans to imperialism to tactics of division and isolation, to structural and systemic racism.
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