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Afrobeat icon Seun Kuti and his Egypt 80 band opened the show with his father’s classic Army Arrangement. “Whether you like or you no like, after you hear this true talk…” Just like his Baba Fela, Seun chose not to hold his tongue. About two thirds of the way through his riveting performance at Sony Hall in NYC he ranted for about fifteen minutes on everything from social media to Jussie Smollett. “I have to come here and give you the outside perspective on how America is *ucking up,” he said, to audience applause.

“First and foremost, you people whining about Russia interfered with our politics. Shut the *uck up. The way America interferes with every other person in this world! I don’t think Russia should interfere with your elections, but, you know what you have to do?  You have to open your elections so that everyone in the world gets a vote. We all have to vote in the American election because you all come and *uck us up regardless.”

The next song was African Dream. “The African Dream must begin to inspire motherland people, we must no longer think that we’re successful because of the amount of things we can consume.  We must begin to think that we are successful because of the amount of things that we can build in our community. When you express your wealth through luxury you oppress the poor. We have to remove ourselves from that narrative and begin to think community and not luxury. *uck boycotting Gucci, boycott fashion because all fashion is racist too. You see me, I don’t have any fashion, but I’ve got style. #GetTheSax.”

Seun Kuti singing on stage
Seun Kuti singing on stage
Seun Kuti singing on stage
Seun Kuti on stage holding a saxophone
Seun Kuti on stage dancing
Seun Kuti on stage dancing
Seun Kuti on stage dancing
Seun Kuti on stage dancing
Seun Kuti on stage with his hands in the air
Seun Kuti
Seun Kuti playing a saxophone
Seun Kuti walking up stairs to the stage