Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has criticized Yoruba monarchs for allegedly neglecting the traditional religious values they are expected to represent.
In an Instagram post shared on Tuesday, Kuti claimed that a significant number of Yoruba kings no longer believe in Yoruba deities, yet they continue to occupy traditional thrones.
“90 percent of Yoruba kings don’t believe in Yoruba gods, yet they sit on Yoruba thrones and mock what it means to be Yoruba,” he wrote.
Kuti expressed concern over the disconnect between cultural heritage and the actions of traditional rulers, stating, “Fanfare in the midst of misery. Joy in the face of poverty and glamour in the presence of ignorance.”
He concluded by urging a more authentic embrace of Yoruba identity, emphasizing that “being Yoruba is not a festival!”