Afrobeat legend, Femi Kuti, has opened up about a painful chapter in his career, revealing how his father and Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, publicly criticized his music after he broke away to form his own band in 1986.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Sonically podcast hosted by Elmo Chong, Femi shared that his decision to leave Fela’s band was met with fierce backlash from fans who saw his departure as a betrayal.
“When I left my father’s band, his fanbase turned against me. It was like, how dare you fight Fela?” he said. “But it wasn’t a fight. I was lost. I had no formal education. How was I going to become a great musician? I was crying inside, but people didn’t understand.”
Despite the emotional turmoil, Femi remained determined to forge his own path in music. “I just focused and said, I can’t turn back right now. I would rather die trying,” he added. “So, I just continued and I have never stopped since then.”
However, the real blow came in 1989 when he launched his debut album. Femi recounted how Fela openly condemned the project at its launch event.
“The first time my father heard my first album at the launching in 1989, he said it was rubbish. He went on stage and said it to the press. I was so upset. He was the last person I expected such a harsh review from,” Femi recalled.