Record producer Samuel Oguachuba, popularly known as Samklef, has stirred debate after claiming that Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was not the original creator of the genre.
The Molowo hitmaker alleged that Fela took the Afrobeat idea from veteran musician Orlando Julius Ekemode.
Samklef made the claim amid the ongoing feud between his former associate Wizkid and members of Fela’s family.
According to Samklef, Orlando Julius not only created Afrobeat but also taught Fela how to play musical instruments, including the saxophone.
Sharing a photo of the late musician on his X (formerly Twitter) page, Samklef described Orlando Julius as the true founder of Afrobeat and accused Fela of copying his style.
He further blamed the controversy on poor historical documentation in Nigeria, stating that many people lack accurate knowledge of the genre’s origins.
However, contrary to Samklef’s claims, popular music history widely credits Fela Anikulapo-Kuti as the creator of Afrobeat, a genre he developed by blending jazz, funk, salsa, calypso, and traditional West African rhythms.
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