Sampling my father’s music doesn’t give you his status – Seun Kuti

 

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Grammy-nominated singer and activist, Seun Kuti, has cautioned Afrobeats artistes against comparing themselves to his late father, legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, simply because they sample his music or draw inspiration from his sound.

Seun made this known while speaking on a recent episode of the Hits Don’t Lie podcast, where he expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend among some Afrobeats artistes who refer to themselves as the “new Fela.” 

According to him, while sampling Fela’s music is not a problem, using it as a basis to claim equivalence with the late icon is misleading and disrespectful.

The singer explained that Fela’s influence went far beyond music, stressing that his father was a revolutionary figure whose legacy cannot be reduced to beats, melodies, or lyrical style alone. 

He noted that Fela’s work was deeply rooted in political activism, social criticism, and a fearless confrontation of authority, qualities he believes are often ignored in these comparisons.

“A few people have done good samples of Fela’s music,” Seun said. “But the only critique that I have is that sampling Fela doesn’t make you Fela. People should stop saying that they are my dad. That is crazy. It’s crazy when people say they are the ‘New Fela.’”

Seun further questioned why similar labels are rarely used in other music cultures, pointing out that global icons like Bob Marley are not casually replaced with “new versions” by younger artistes.

 He described the trend as peculiar to Nigeria and criticized what he sees as a lack of depth in how musical legacies are understood and respected.

Over the years, several Afrobeats stars, including Wizkid and Burna Boy, have been compared to Fela due to their use of Afrobeat elements and occasional sampling of his work. While both artistes have acknowledged Fela’s influence on their music, the comparisons have continued to generate debate among fans and critics alike.

Street-hop artistes Bella Shmurda and Portable have also publicly referred to themselves as the “New Fela,” a claim that has sparked mixed reactions within the music community. 

Additionally, rapper Olamide stirred controversy late last year after describing Wizkid as the “greatest Afrobeats artiste after Fela,” a statement that reignited discussions about legacy and artistic hierarchy.

Seun Kuti has consistently spoken against what he considers the casual dilution of his father’s legacy. For him, Fela’s impact lies not only in his music but in his unwavering stance against oppression and injustice, values he believes should not be trivialized.

While reiterating that he supports creative freedom and artistic inspiration, Seun urged Afrobeats artistes and fans to draw a clear line between influence and identity, stressing that no amount of sampling can recreate the historical, cultural, and political weight carried by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

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