Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has questioned the effectiveness of social media activism, arguing that online campaigns alone are not enough to bring about meaningful social and political change.
Speaking in a recent video, Kuti reflected on some of Nigeria’s most prominent advocacy movements, including the campaign for the return of abducted schoolgirls, to illustrate what he described as the limitations of digital activism.
According to the singer, public campaigns continued across multiple administrations without fully achieving their intended outcomes.
“If you remember clearly, during the previous administration, we kept shouting ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ every day. From Jonathan to Buhari, the slogan continued. Even when Buhari came into office, the girls were still not returned,” he said.
Kuti noted that discussions around such issues often become difficult over time, claiming that people who continue to raise concerns are sometimes met with criticism or hostility.
“It later became a situation where if you bring it up, people will attack or insult you,” he added.
The musician argued that Nigerians frequently repeat the same strategies while expecting different results, insisting that more practical forms of engagement are needed to address national challenges.
Turning to the role of social media, Kuti challenged the widespread belief that digital platforms possess the power to single handedly drive major political or social change.
“Social media is not as powerful as many people think it is. If social media truly had the power people believe it has, governments would not allow unrestricted access to it,” he stated.
He further claimed that online platforms are heavily regulated and subject to various forms of control, including algorithmic restrictions that can limit the visibility of content.
Referencing his own experience, Kuti alleged that one of his recent videos had its audio removed and that a subsequent post faced restrictions.
“Social media is regulated and controlled. Algorithms can suppress content. My last video had its audio removed, and I returned to post again, but the post was restricted,” he said.
The singer concluded by urging Nigerians not to rely solely on online activism, maintaining that real change requires action beyond social media conversations and viral content.