‘It’s not by force to console Davido in public’ — Seun Kuti hits critics

Seun Kuti, the Afrobeats singer, has reacted to criticism leveled against him for not publicly condoling with Davido, the Afropop star.

Ifeanyi Adeleke, Davido’s son with his fiancee Chioma Rowland, was said to have drowned in a swimming pool on October 31.

It was gathered that the incident happened within Davido’s residence in the Banana Island highbrow of Lagos.

The three-year-old was said to have been rushed to a hospital in Lekki where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

It was also said that Davido had left for the US and Chioma for Ibadan, leaving Ifeanyi with a domestic assistant.

Following Ifeanyi’s death, the police interrogated about eight of the singer’s domestic workers, including the nanny.

The case had public figures expressing condolences to Davido, although he is yet to speak on the matter.

In a 17-minute video, Kuti criticised social media users whom he said had attacked him on Instagram for not making a video about Davido, instead posting about children who died of hunger and poverty across the world.

The singer clarified that every public figure chooses to mourn in their own unique way.

“You have the right to feel what you want to feel but don’t tell others to feel what you want to feel. I didn’t say you shouldn’t feel the death of Davido’s child but you people want to make me a monster,” Kuti said.

“Please mourn as you like to mourn. Everybody has their way. I cannot mourn people in public. It’s not my style. I don’t know Davido personally. I’ve only met him once. I’ve never posted anything about his success or music.

“Why would the first thing I would post be about the death of his child? That’s not how I move. If I was in Nigeria and I felt moved, I won’t even call. I’d go to his house.

“I’m happy my father Fela didn’t die during the social media age. Maybe none of you would come to his burial. Maybe you’d put up a post on social media and feel that’s enough.

“Take flowers and light candles outside his house. That’s how to condole. It’s not by force to post anything on social media.”