Femi Kuti’s sheds light on a deeply personal moment in his career, where the Afrobeat legend revealed the harsh criticism he faced from his father, Fela Kuti. Femi shared, “When I left my father, his fanbase turned against me… My father said it to the press that my 1st album was rubbish…”
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Femi Kuti, born Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti on June 16, 1962, in London, is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Raised in Lagos, Femi initially lived with his mother, Remilekun Taylor, after she left Fela. However, at 15, in 1977, Femi chose to move in with his father, immersing himself in Fela’s world of music and activism. This decision marked the beginning of Femi’s journey in Afrobeat, but it also set the stage for a complex relationship with his father, whose larger-than-life persona cast a long shadow.
Femi joined Fela’s band, Egypt 80, as a teenager, performing alongside his father in the iconic throwback image shared in the X post. However, tensions arose when Femi sought to establish his own musical identity. In the late 1980s, he formed his band, Positive Force, a move that symbolized his desire for independence.
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Fela Kuti, known for his unfiltered honesty, didn’t hold back when it came to Femi’s first album. By publicly calling it “rubbish,” Fela not only criticized Femi’s work but also influenced his fanbase to turn against his son. This moment, as Femi shared, was a turning point, highlighting the immense pressure he faced to live up to Fela’s legacy. Fela’s critique wasn’t just about music—it was a reflection of the high standards he set for Afrobeat, a genre he pioneered by blending West African rhythms with American funk and jazz.
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Despite this setback, Femi persevered. He went on to release critically acclaimed albums, collaborate with global artists like Common and Mos Def, and earn multiple Grammy nominations. His 2021 project, Legacy+, released alongside his son Made Kuti, further solidified his place in Afrobeat history, proving that he could honor his father’s legacy while forging his own path.
