Femi Kuti opens up on exit from Fela’s band

Femi Kuti leaves Fela’s band, revealing he sought his own identity beyond his father’s shadow despite early struggles with critics and fans

Femi Kuti leaves Fela’s band was a bold decision that shaped his career and personal life.

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The Afrobeat musician, who is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, said he had to walk away to avoid being trapped in his father’s shadow.

Speaking on the Afropolitan podcast, the 63-year-old recalled how overwhelming the pressure was to live up to his father’s legacy.

“Growing up in school, everybody would be like, ‘aren’t you going to be like your dad or won’t you play music?’ I was pressured to be like my father,” he said.

Femi revealed that at one point, he even dressed like his father and became a “mini Fela.” However, he realized that if he did not carve his own path, he would end up unhappy.

“I just thought I should better look for myself fast, or I’m going to be a very unhappy man. So I went back to my mother,” he explained.

Forming his own band was not easy. According to him, Fela’s fan base turned against him and the press offered little support.

“It was very difficult to find a good write-up about me then because the press hated me and at this time, there was no internet for me to defend myself,” he recalled.