Afrobeats singer, Tekno, has questioned the widely held view that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti should be regarded as the sole originator of the sound, saying other Nigerian musicians played significant roles in the development of African music.
Tekno made the remarks during an interview with US radio station Hot 97, where he recognised Fela’s immense influence on the global music scene but noted that several Nigerian pioneers had already contributed to the country’s musical heritage before Fela rose to prominence.
The ‘Rara’ hitmaker, who was raised in eastern Nigeria, explained that his early connection with highlife music influenced his understanding of African sounds and their evolution.
He referenced the late highlife musician Oliver De Coque as one of the artistes whose contributions deserve greater recognition.
“They’re legends like Oliver De Coque. He’s a legend who makes pure highlife music, and highlife is also Afrobeats,” he said.
Despite his argument, Tekno acknowledged that Fela’s music has influenced his own creative work. He disclosed that his 2022 single, ‘Rara’, drew significant inspiration from the Afrobeat pioneer.
“I have a record of mine, Rara, that is really big and is heavily inspired by Fela because I heard his tune as well and he’s a legend,” Tekno said.
According to the singer, Fela’s extensive international exposure contributed to the recognition he eventually received, particularly when compared with other musicians of his generation.
“He obviously stamped the Afrobeats thing on the world map, but we have some other legends who sang very good music that, if you heard it today, you wouldn’t even believe those songs were made in those times.
“People don’t know them as much, but my dad used to play these records, and there were so many artistes who made them, but Fela gets the credit because he travelled and had the band that went around the world.
“To some people, he’s the originator of Afrobeats, but to me, there are a lot of them,” he said.
