Afrobeat musician and activist Seun Kuti has said he has never prayed in his life, expressing strong skepticism about the value and effectiveness of prayer.
In a video shared on his Instagram account, Kuti criticised public displays of worship, describing them as performative and immature. He argued that a person’s choices and actions—not prayers—are what ultimately shape their life.
“I have never prayed in my life. I don’t know how to pray. I don’t believe it works,” he said. “Your life is your prayer. What you do with your life is your prayer. Praying publicly or aloud is eye service. It is childishness.”
Kuti went on to question commonly held beliefs about God and predestination, suggesting that such ideas undermine the logic of prayer.
“This concept of God that most people have is why prayer has become completely null and void,” he said. “You say this God has already written everything from beginning to end and that his will must be done. So unless your prayer aligns with that will, it won’t be answered. Clerics won’t tell you this because they want to exploit people.”
He added that he believes in addressing problems through action rather than prayer. “I solve my problems. I don’t pray over my problems. If prayer solved problems, prisons and hospitals would be empty,” Kuti said.
