Femi Kuti, the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has said that his father’s legacy cannot be measured by modern music standards such as streaming numbers, sales figures, or awards.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News amid ongoing debates about Fela’s relevance and comparisons with contemporary artistes, Femi explained that the late musician’s influence went far beyond entertainment.
According to him, Fela’s work laid the foundation for cultural activism in African music and continues to shape how artistic success is defined on the continent.
Femi noted that he avoids interfering in the personal or professional decisions of other artistes, stressing that he cannot predict how people may react.
“I don’t go out of my lane to interfere with anybody’s life. I don’t tell people what to do because I don’t know their reaction,” he said.
Reacting to the controversy surrounding comments attributed to Wizkid during a social media exchange, Femi said he could not determine whether the remarks reflected the artiste’s true beliefs or were made in the heat of the moment.
“When Wizkid decided to respond and said he’s greater than Fela, my question is: does he truly feel that way, or was it said because of the situation? I can’t prejudge him,” he stated.
He added that if such conversations were brought to him privately, he would address them with understanding rather than confrontation.
“If he comes to me, I’ll talk to him like a father. If my brother comes to me, I’ll talk to him like a brother. The family doesn’t need all this,” he said.
Femi also expressed confidence that artistes such as Burna Boy and Davido would not deliberately speak against Fela. He concluded by reaffirming his stance on the debate, saying, “For me, Fela is the greatest.”
