Renowned Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has opened up about the emotional and psychological journey that led him to leave his father’s iconic music band.
Speaking on the Afropolitan Podcast, the 63-year-old artist revealed that the decision was driven by a deep need to discover his own identity, away from the towering shadow of his father’s legacy.
“I did not have any possibility of my life,” Femi said. “Growing up in school, everybody would be like, ‘Aren’t you going to be like your dad or won’t you play music?’ I was pressured to be like my father.”
Femi recounted how living with Fela influenced his appearance and behavior, even down to wearing identical outfits. He described himself as a “mini Fela,” but soon realized that continuing down that path would leave him deeply unhappy.
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“I just thought I should better look for myself fast, or I’m going to be a very unhappy man. So I went back to my mother.”
After forming his own band, Femi faced backlash from Fela’s fan base and the press, who criticized him harshly. Without the internet to defend himself, he endured years of negative coverage and isolation.
“It was very difficult to find a good write-up about me then because the press hated me,” he said. “Being under my father, I didn’t have any possibility of my own life, including having children. I saw my life in his life.”
Femi’s candid reflections offer a rare glimpse into the personal struggles behind his rise as a global Afrobeat icon. His journey from the son of a legend to a legend in his own right continues to inspire artists across generations.
