SEUN Kuti, a musician and son of the legendary Afro-beats legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has condemned the ideology of black excellence among Africans.
In a post on his Instagram page, the Grammy nominee expressed the belief that black excellence is an irresponsible futile effort to combat victimhood.
While maintaining that black excellence is intelligent, noble, and beautiful, the singer and activist said the idea that Africans must strive towards perfection before they can be respected is laughable.
He wrote; “Black excellence is vibrant, artistic athletic, intelligent, beautiful but it’s fatal flaw? It’s IRRESPONSIBLE!!! The excellent blacks forget not all Africans can be excellent and if our humanity is suddenly pegged at excellent and perfect what happens to all of us who don’t fit into this category.
“Most Africans are normal, we can’t jump or run fast. We can’t sing and dance or make beautiful clothes. We are just normal people. I don’t get it? Are we saying the entire African people must strive for perfection and excellence before we are respected as humans?
“Moreover many of the images I see promoting this ideology is basically African people trying to ‘out white the whites’!! And many of them have white peoples name sprawled all over them and they say it’s a brand and I’m like yeah, that’s what they called it when they burnt it into the skin of your ancestors also, 200 years later and u are branding urself in the name of success. #getthesax.”
Prior to now, blacks have been known to be the oppressed race in society. Since the time of being colonised by the Whites, social stratification has been in place, whereby the Blacks were inferior to the Whites.
Unlike before, the blacks are now having a say in the society, excelling in their chosen fields regardless of societal injustice and racism. Perhaps, in order to promote this among Africans in the black community, is why black excellence, an ideology that celebrates outstanding blacks, is in place.
What’s your take on Kuti’s submission.