Kemi Badenoch: Seun Kuti calls for ban on UK Conservative leader

Seun Kuti, the renowned Afrobeat musician and activist, has called for African governments to ban the leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, from entering the continent following controversial remarks about Nigeria.

Badenoch, who has Nigerian heritage and spent part of her childhood in Nigeria, has been criticized for comments describing her experiences in the country as marked by fear and insecurity, attributing these to corruption and systemic failures.

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima and others have accused her of denigrating the nation with her statements.

In an Instagram live session, Kuti condemned Badenoch’s remarks, particularly her alleged position suggesting African nations owe Europe for colonialism. He interpreted her comments as an insult not only to Nigerians but also to the ancestors who suffered under colonial rule.

Kuti stated:”She’s someone who should be banned by African governments from stepping into Africa. Once she steps into Africa, she should be jailed.”

Kuti’s response reflects a broader frustration among many Africans toward figures of African descent who, in positions of influence abroad, are perceived to undermine the dignity or struggles of their countries of origin.

This debate also raises questions about how diasporic identities interact with narratives of colonial history, corruption, and responsibility. Badenoch’s comments continue to spark polarized reactions, both in Africa and among the African diaspora.