Veteran Nigerian musician Femi Kuti, the first son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has opened up on the reasons behind his decision to part ways with his father’s iconic band.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Afropolitan Podcast, Femi Kuti explained that leaving the band was not an act of rebellion, but a journey of self-discovery.
According to him, remaining under Fela’s shadow left him with “no possibility” of living his own life.
“Growing up, I was constantly pressured to be like my father. People would say, ‘Won’t you play music like Fela?’ or ‘Won’t you be like your dad?’ If I wanted to play music, I had to be Femi Kuti. I realised I could never be Fela — I had to find myself,” he said.
Femi recalled that during his childhood, he often dressed exactly like his father because Fela would style him in the same outfits.
This, he noted, made him feel like a “mini Fela”, but also created a deep internal conflict.
“I thought to myself: I had better find my own identity quickly, or I would end up a very unhappy man. So I returned to live with my mother, and eventually decided to create my own band,” he added.
However, the transition was far from easy.
Femi recounted how, after forming his own band, he faced criticism from Fela’s loyal fanbase and negative press coverage.
Without social media or the internet at the time, he had no platform to defend himself against the backlash.
Despite these challenges, Femi persevered and successfully built his own legacy, becoming a globally celebrated Afrobeat musician in his own right.
Today, he is regarded as one of the foremost torchbearers of the Afrobeat tradition, alongside his son, Made Kuti.
He proves that his decision to step away from Fela’s band was indeed the right one.
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Reflecting on the decision, the 63-year-old musician emphasised that leaving was necessary not just for his career, but also for his personal growth, happiness, and independence.
