A tribute by dancer Korra Obidi at the gravesite of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti has ignited a spirited debate online after receiving a surprising endorsement from Fela’s son, musician Seun Kuti.
During a recent visit to Nigeria, Obidi filmed herself performing a twerking dance at Fela’s burial site in Lagos. Sharing the video on Instagram, she framed the act as a personal offering, stating, “We all know that one thing Fela loved was a woman with gyrating hips. So I decided to twerk for baba.”
While the gesture was immediately met with criticism from some social media users who deemed it disrespectful and inappropriate for a gravesite, Seun Kuti publicly came to Obidi’s defense.
In his reaction, he affirmed that her tribute was in true alignment with his father’s celebrated love for dance and vibrant expression.
“You guys know what baba likes but you will never give him what he wants,” Seun Kuti commented, adding, “E go better for you my sister.” His statement suggested that the unconventional homage was a fitting acknowledgment of Fela Kuti’s cultural legacy and free-spirited persona, rather than a breach of decorum.
The incident highlights the enduring and often polarising nature of Fela Kuti’s legacy, one that challenges conventional norms and continues to provoke discussion about the boundaries of art, respect, and cultural memory.
