Seun Kuti warns afrobeats stars against ‘new Fela’ comparisons

Grammy-nominated singer and activist Seun Kuti has cautioned Afrobeats artists against comparing themselves to his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the legendary pioneer of Afrobeat music.

Kuti expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend among some Afrobeats musicians who portray themselves as the modern-day equivalent of Fela, largely on the basis that they sample his songs or draw inspiration from his musical style.

While making it clear that he has no objection to the sampling of Fela’s work, Seun Kuti said he strongly opposes the narrative that equates such artistic borrowing with the stature and legacy of the late music icon.

Sampling, he stressed, does not place contemporary artists on the same historical or cultural pedestal as Fela.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Hits Don’t Lie podcast, Kuti said only a handful of artists have meaningfully sampled his father’s music, but warned against overreaching comparisons.

“A few people have done good samples of Fela’s music,” he said. “But the only critique that I have is that sampling Fela doesn’t make you Fela.”

He described claims by some musicians that they represent a “New Fela” as misplaced and excessive.

“So, people should stop saying that they are my dad. That is crazy,” Kuti added. “It’s crazy when people say that they are the ‘New Fela.’ Where is Bob Marley’? It is only in Nigeria you hear such things. We do wild stuff here. People are wild.”

Seun Kuti’s comments come amid longstanding debates within Nigeria’s music industry about legacy, originality and the evolving identity of Afrobeats, a genre that has achieved massive global recognition in recent years.

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Several leading Afrobeats stars, including Wizkid and Burna Boy, have previously been compared to Fela, particularly after sampling his music or incorporating Afrobeat elements into their sound.

Street-hop artists such as Bella Shmurda and Portable have also publicly referred to themselves as the “New Fela,” fuelling controversy among fans and industry observers.

The debate intensified late last year when rapper Olamide sparked reactions on social media after describing Wizkid as “the greatest Afrobeats artist after Fela,” a statement that drew both praise and criticism.

Seun Kuti’s intervention adds a fresh voice to the ongoing conversation, reinforcing the view that while Fela’s influence remains deeply rooted in contemporary Nigerian music, his legacy remains singular and incomparable.