Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti recently clarified that his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, did not fight the Nigerian government. Instead, Seun Kuti asserted that the legendary musician’s battle was against wealthy individuals, not the state.

Speaking on the *Zero Conditions* podcast, Seun Kuti revealed that many misconceptions have surrounded his father’s legacy. He recounted a popular story he once believed—that Fela had modified a luxury car to transport vegetables—until he learned from his father’s own reaction that it was untrue.

Seun Kuti explained, “There are numerous misconceptions about my family and our actions. For a long time, I believed the story about my dad converting a Benz into a vegetable carrier because it was widely circulated. It wasn’t until someone mentioned it in my father’s presence that he was visibly surprised.”

He continued, “We often misunderstand the broader context of his actions. During the 1970s, immediately after colonialism, it would have been unthinkable for him to do something so extravagant when people were suffering. These stories were spread to portray him as erratic and frivolous.”

Contrary to popular belief, Seun Kuti emphasized that his father did not target the Nigerian government but rather the affluent members of society. “Listen to his songs like ‘Lady,’ ‘Swegbe and Akpako,’ ‘Ikoyi Blindness,’ and ‘Ikoyi versus Mushin.’ His music consistently criticized the rich elite of Nigeria,” he said.

Seun Kuti further explained that the wealthy elite allied with the government against Fela, who faced both physical assaults from the authorities and media attacks from the rich. “The rich backed the government’s actions with lies and propaganda to justify the harsh treatment Fela received,” he concluded.