Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti has voiced his irritation over persistent assertions linking him to political figures such as the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and current President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television, Femi clarified that these claims are inaccurate, particularly in light of the recent posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on his father, the iconic Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
He described the accolade as a global acknowledgment of a man who dedicated his life to confronting dictatorship, corruption, and social injustice in Nigeria and across Africa. The honour, Femi noted, carries deep emotional and historical significance, especially for those who experienced the harsh realities of military rule during Fela’s activism.
“Everyone is happy and deeply excited. I’m currently in Los Angeles, and it’s difficult to truly explain what my father did in the 1970s unless you lived through that period. He stood up to dictatorship in Nigeria at a time when people were genuinely terrified of the military,” Femi said.
The musician recounted the repeated acts of state violence endured by Fela and their profound impact on his family.
“There were constant raids, over and over again. Kalakuta was burned down. My grandmother was thrown from a window, and she later died from the injuries,” he recalled, adding that living under such conditions was deeply traumatic for Fela’s children.
Femi explained that Fela’s music was inseparable from Nigeria’s political evolution, describing how it gradually became a weapon of resistance.
“You need to understand how his music evolved over time. From the 1960s, with songs like Lady and Shakara, to when he became openly political. He confronted one regime after another, right up to the burning of his home. Fela lived a full, consequential life.”
When questioned about current political discourse and how Fela might have responded today, Femi strongly rejected claims suggesting his family’s support for politicians opposed by his father.
“When people say I supported Buhari, that lie really irritates me. Or when they claim I campaigned for Tinubu, it hurts me deeply. As Fela’s son, it is impossible for us to align with any government that is not for the people—especially those governments or individuals who beat him, arrested him, or imprisoned him,” he stated.
Femi also highlighted that the Grammy recognition celebrates decades of work by the Kuti family and the global Afrobeat community in preserving Fela’s legacy.
“My elder sister, my brother Seun, my son Made, and the entire family—we have all played our part in speaking about him. Musicians continue to play his music. Scholars study his work. Afrobeat artists today draw inspiration from him, and many sample his songs.”
He added that the award is more than a family achievement—it is a tribute to Fela’s enduring influence worldwide.
“To crown it all with one of the world’s biggest awards—the Grammys—what more could anyone ask for? But this recognition is not for the family alone. Fela was a father to many. That’s why people say ‘our father.’ He gave a voice to the voiceless in the 1970s and 1980s.”
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