Femi Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has weighed in on the ongoing debate comparing his father’s legacy to today’s music superstars. According to him, Fela’s greatness goes far beyond numbers, charts, awards, or streaming platforms. He explained that using modern metrics to judge Fela’s impact completely misses the point of what the late icon stood for.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News, Femi described Fela as a cultural force whose music became a tool for activism, resistance, and social change. He noted that Fela’s work laid the foundation for how African music is understood globally today, influencing not just sound, but also identity, freedom of expression, and political consciousness.
Femi also made it clear that he avoids interfering in the affairs of other artists, stressing that everyone reacts differently to criticism or public pressure. Addressing reports about comments allegedly made by Wizkid during a social media exchange, he said it would be unfair to judge whether those statements truly reflected the singer’s beliefs or were simply made in the heat of the moment. He added that personal conversations should be handled privately and with respect, not turned into public drama.
The Afrobeat musician further expressed confidence that stars like Burna Boy and Davido would not intentionally disrespect Fela’s legacy. He concluded by restating his firm stance on the matter, saying that for him, the debate is unnecessary. In his words, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti remains unmatched and, without question, the greatest.
