Femi Kuti speaks on why we must stop comparing Fela with modern stars.
If there is one conversation that never seems to end on the Nigerian social media space, it is the constant argument about who is the greatest of all time. We see it every day, fans of Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido locking horns with the purists who believe that nobody can ever touch the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
This “wahala” has been brewing for years, but recently, the eldest son of the Afrobeat pioneer, Femi Kuti, decided to pour some cold water on the heat. In a world where everyone wants to rank greatness like a football league table, Femi is telling us to hold our horses.
As an editor who has watched our music travel from the dusty streets of Lagos to the shining lights of the Grammys, I find his perspective very refreshing. He believes that trying to measure the new generation against his father is not just difficult, it is completely unnecessary.
Different times and different battles for the Afrobeat crown
The real “koko” of Femi’s argument lies in the concept of time and context. You cannot compare a man who was fighting a military government with his music to a young artist who is using his talent to top the Spotify charts.
Fela was a prophet and an activist who used his “shrine” as a parliament. He faced soldiers and spent time in prison for the things he said. On the other hand, the stars of today like Rema and Tems are fighting a different battle, the battle for global dominance and economic empowerment. Femi Kuti points out that the environment in which Fela operated was totally different from what we see now.
In the seventies and eighties, the struggle was about survival and human rights, but today, the struggle is about taking the Nigerian sound to every corner of the earth. Both are important, but they are not the same thing.
Celebrating the global success of today without pulling down the past
We must admit that the levels have changed. When Fela was touring the world, he was carrying a message of African liberation. Today, our artists are carrying a message of African excellence and luxury.
Femi Kuti is very clear about the fact that he appreciates what the younger generation is doing. He is not one of those elders who look down on the new sound. Instead, he sees the hard work they put in to sell out arenas and win international awards. By saying the comparison is unnecessary, he is giving the likes of Burna Boy the space to be great without the heavy shadow of Fela constantly hanging over their heads.
Every artist deserves to be judged by their own work and the impact they make in their own lifetime.
The way forward for Nigerian music and the legacy of the Kuti family
As the Kuti family continues to keep the spirit of Afrobeat alive through the New Africa Shrine and their own music, the focus remains on growth and unity. Femi’s intervention is a call for us to stop the “yarning” and focus on the music itself.
Whether it is the conscious vibes of the past or the party anthems of the present, the ultimate winner is the Nigerian culture. We should be proud that we have a foundation as solid as Fela and a future as bright as the current Afrobeats wave.
Instead of fighting over who is better, we should be celebrating the fact that our music has become a global language. The legacy of the Kuti family is secured, and the stars of today are building their own empires. There is enough space in the sky for every star to shine without dimming another.
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