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Afrobeat star reveals how Fela, Orlando Owoh shaped his sound

A Nigerian Afrobeat singer has credited music legends Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Orlando Owoh as major influences on his sound and approach to music. He explained that Fela’s socially conscious lyrics, powerful stage performances and use of music to challenge injustice inspired him to see Afrobeat as a tool for storytelling and activism, not just entertainment. The artiste also said Orlando Owoh’s unique blend of highlife, Yoruba rhythms and deep vocals helped shape his interest in live band music and rich, traditional instrumentation. According to him, listening to both icons while growing up taught him to value originality, meaningful lyrics and strong band arrangements, which now guide how he writes, records and performs his own songs. He added that his goal is to keep evolving the Afrobeat sound for a new generation while still paying respect to the pioneers whose […]

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2Baba calls Wizkid and Fela comparisons ridiculous

Music icon Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has dismissed the ongoing comparison between Wizkid and late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti as ridiculous. In a teaser from an upcoming episode of the Mic On podcast, 2Baba said it is disrespectful to Fela’s legacy and unfair to Wizkid to place both men side by side. He noted that each artiste should be judged within the context of his own era, style and impact. The debate intensified after Wizkid responded to criticism from Seun Kuti, Fela’s son, by claiming he is “bigger” than the Afrobeat pioneer. 2Baba stressed that Fela and Wizkid have made unique contributions to Nigerian music that cannot be measured on the same scale. He argued that constant comparisons ignore the different environments in which they created their work and add nothing useful to the conversation. He urged […]

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Stay true to Fela Kuti’s legacy, Yomi Fabiyi tells Wizkid

Actor Yomi Fabiyi has written an open letter to Wizkid, urging him not to erase the tattoo of Fela Kuti’s image on his body despite the recent controversy surrounding comparisons between the late icon and modern artists. He acknowledged Wizkid’s long‑standing celebration of Fela’s legacy, citing his appearances at Felabration and his positive remarks about the Afrobeat pioneer.​ Fabiyi reminded Wizkid that he represents a historic revolution in Nigerian and Afrobeat music, and encouraged him to “manage this storm very well” rather than react in a way that could be seen as turning his back on Fela. He described Fela as a symbol of resistance who gave voice to the voiceless, fought corruption and made sacrifices that helped shape Nigeria’s democracy.​ He praised Wizkid for doing more than many others to sustain Fela’s legacy, noting that performing at Felabration, tattooing Fela’s image […]

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Singer Ebonny Musik Credits Fela, Wizkid as Influences

Fast-rising Nigerian artist Ebonny Musik has revealed that his music career was significantly shaped by two iconic figures: the legendary Fela Kuti and global star Wizkid. In a recent interview, he explained that Fela Anikulapo Kuti taught him the power of using music as a tool for social commentary and change. "Fela taught me that music is not just about entertainment," he stated. He also praised Wizkid for paving the way for Nigerian artists on the world stage, saying his success gave him hope that "Nigerian music can compete anywhere." Ebonny Musik, who divides his time between Nigeria and the UK, blends these influences into his own "Afro-urban" sound. His goal is to use his music to connect cultures and bring people together globally.

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Femi Kuti Slams Grammy’s Tony Allen Co-Creator Claim: ‘Fela Alone Created Afrobeat’

Femi Kuti Challenges Grammy’s Narrative on Afrobeat’s Origins Afrobeat royalty Femi Kuti , son of the legendary Fela Kuti , has publicly refuted claims that late drummer Tony Allen co-created the iconic Afrobeat genre. The controversy resurfaced after the Recording Academy (The Grammys) credited Allen as a co-founder of Afrobeat, acknowledging his influential work with Fela during the 1960s and ’70s. While Allen, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 79, is celebrated for his powerful drumming with Fela’s Africa ’70 band , Femi insists that his father was the sole visionary behind the genre. In a now-viral video, Femi passionately defended Fela’s legacy, asserting that every element of Afrobeat — including its signature drum patterns — originated from Fela himself. Femi’s Defense of Fela’s Legacy In the video, Femi emphasized that Fela was the mastermind behind Afrobeat, […]

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La querelle autour des origines de l’afrobeat refait surface.

Femi Kuti, fils du légendaire Fela Kuti, a vivement réagi aux récentes déclarations de la Recording Academy (Grammy Awards), qui a reconnu le batteur Tony Allen comme co-créateur de l’afrobeat. Dans une vidéo virale, Femi a fermement rejeté cette version de l’histoire, défendant l’héritage de son père comme seul fondateur de ce genre musical révolutionnaire. « Mon père a tout composé. Il a étudié la musique. Chaque partie des morceaux venait de lui, y compris les lignes de batterie que l’on attribue aujourd’hui à Tony Allen », déclare Femi avec conviction. Une vision artistique solitaire et rigoureuseSelon Femi, Fela Kuti travaillait de manière totalement indépendante, en construisant pas à pas chaque morceau, des percussions aux cuivres, en passant par la guitare et la basse. « J’étais là. J’ai vu comment il composait. Il pouvait passer des semaines à concevoir une […]

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