Afrobeats musician, Femi Kuti, has opened up about the personal and professional struggles he faced while carving out his own identity in the music industry, separate from the towering legacy of his father, the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Speaking on the Afropolitan Podcast, Femi revealed that he was subjected to constant comparisons with his father from an early age.
According to him, schoolmates, strangers, and the general public expected him to adopt Fela’s musical style and continue his legacy without deviation.
Over time, he said he came to understand that he could not be anyone else—not jazz greats like Charlie Parker or John Coltrane, and certainly not Fela. He realized the importance of being true to himself and committed to creating his own path in music.
He recalled the period when he lived with his father and mimicked his style, a phase he eventually outgrew. Determined to stand on his own, Femi decided to form his own band—an action that was initially met with criticism from both the media and Fela’s die-hard fans.
Femi credited his grandmother’s guidance during this difficult period for helping him stay grounded. He said her firm advice motivated him to refocus on his music and persist through the challenges that came with establishing his identity.
Reflecting on his journey, Femi said the difficulties he endured were essential to becoming the artist he is today. He explained that living under his father’s roof made it hard to envision his own dream, but through struggle and self-discovery, he was able to achieve his vision as Femi Kuti.
“If God wanted me to be Fela, I would have been Fela. I had to be Femi Kuti,” he said.
“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.
I had to feel my pain. I had to strive for my own success. Being under my father’s roof, I couldn’t even see that dream.”
