Femi Kuti reflects on life and breaking free beyond his father’s shadow

Afrobeat artiste Femi Kuti has openly discussed his life under the imposing influence of his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and insisted that his life’s purpose has always been to pave his own route.

The energetic entertainer who opened up during a recent interview on the Afropolitan podcast reflected on the constant comparisons with Fela and the heavy pressure while he was younger.

“In school, at the bus stop, everywhere—people would say, ‘Are you not going to be like your father? Won’t you play music?’ The pressure was too much. You must be like your father.”

However, Femi clarified that he reached a pivotal moment when he understood that he could never be anyone else, not even Fela, John Coltrane, or Charlie Parker.

“If God wanted me to be Fela, I would have been Fela. I had to be Femi Kuti.” He said.

Femi talked about how, after living with his father and even dressing like him, he finally made the decision to leave and start his own band, which he claimed was met with criticism.

“His fan base descended on me. They hated me. The press hated me. There was no internet then, so I couldn’t even defend myself.” Femi noted during the interview.

Femi, who highlighted how he developed a unique musical identity by fusing activism with creativity, also disclosed how his grandmother provided him with the firm affection he required when he was about to lose focus.

“She said, ‘What kind of lousy musician are you? You’ve been here for two weeks and you haven’t picked up your horn.’ I cried all night. But those words saved my life.”