The family of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti has issued a statement that denies support for the use of the Afrobeats crooner’s song for a political campaign.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had used Fela’s popular song “Eko Ile” as a form of the campaign towards their 2023 presidential campaign. This action stirred a lot of controversies among netizens who had speculated that the Kuti family was endorsing the APC party.
In a disclaimer post by Femi Kuti on his verified social media accounts, he made it known that the action made by the APC was without the families’ authorization and the Kuti family has always been neutral when it concerns politics.
The post read; “Disclaimer and notice of use without consent. We the administrators of the estate of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti issue this disclaimer. We wish to state here for clarity, that the permission of the estate was not sought for the use of Fela’s music, Eko Ile, in the All Progressive Congress social media campaign currently making the rounds.
“We do not involve Fela’s music in any political campaign at home or abroad and choose to remain neutral. While we wish all candidates the best we demand that the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are abided by and intellectual property rights are duly respected. Signed the estate of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.”
