Fela Not Originator Of Afrobeats – Tekno Claims

Nigerian singer Augustine Miles Kelechi, popularly known as Tekno, has sparked controversy after claiming that the late music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was not the originator of Afrobeats.

During a recent interview with Hot 97 FM in New York, Tekno said several Nigerian music legends, including Oliver De Coque, also played important roles in the development of the genre.

According to him, Fela received most of the recognition because he travelled widely and had more opportunities to take his music to an international audience.

Tekno, however, acknowledged Fela’s major contribution to African music, describing him as a legend who helped take the sound to the international stage.

He said:

“Fela is not the originator of Afrobeats. Lagos people and the Yorubas might say he is the one, but I am from the East, and we had legends like Oliver De Coque. Oliver De Coque made pure highlife music. Highlife is also Afrobeats.

“My song ‘Rara’ is heavily inspired by Fela because I heard his music while growing up. He is a legend. He was the one who took Afrobeat international. But there are other people that we listen to. In the East, we had some legends who sang some type of music that, if you heard today, you wouldn’t believe was made in those times.

ALSO READ

• Fela’s Privileged Background Contributed to His Success — Seun Kuti
• “I Don’t Want Problems In My Life” – Femi Kuti Declines To Take Photos With Korra Obidi

“I feel like these legends deserved more recognition. I would say I was more inspired by Oliver De Coque and his peers from the East. My dad used to play his music a lot.

“Fela gets all the credit because he travelled and performed with his band around the world. To some people, he is the originator of Afrobeats, but to me, there are a bunch of them— legends that no one speaks about,” Tekno said.