Seun Kuti Warns Afrobeats Stars: “Sampling Fela Doesn’t Make You Fela”

Maverick Nigerian musician and activist, Seun Kuti, has cautioned Afrobeats artistes against drawing direct comparisons between themselves and his late father, the legendary Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Hits Don’t Lie podcast, the Grammy-nominated singer expressed concern over a growing trend where some Afrobeats artistes refer to themselves as the “new Fela” simply because they sample his music or draw inspiration from his sound. While Seun made it clear that he has no issue with artistes sampling Fela’s work, he firmly opposed what he described as an overreach in equating inspiration with legacy.

“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 they are my dad. That is crazy. It’s crazy when people say they are the ‘New Fela.’ Where is the ‘Bob Marley’? It’s only in Nigeria you hear such things.”

Seun’s comments come amid frequent comparisons between Fela and several contemporary Afrobeats stars. Artistes such as Wizkid and Burna Boy have been likened to the Afrobeat icon after sampling his work, while street-hop acts like Bella Shmurda and Portable have openly referred to themselves as “New Fela.” Last year, rapper Olamide also stirred debate after describing Wizkid as the greatest Afrobeats artiste after Fela.

Opinion: Inspiration Is Not Inheritance

Seun Kuti’s message strikes at the heart of a wider cultural conversation in Nigerian music. Fela was not just a sound — he was a movement, a political force, and a fearless voice that challenged power at great personal cost. While today’s Afrobeats stars are undoubtedly talented and globally influential, their journeys, struggles and missions are different.

There is nothing wrong with honouring legends or drawing inspiration from them. In fact, it keeps history alive. But legacy cannot be self-assigned, and greatness is best defined over time, not by catchy labels. Afrobeats is thriving precisely because it has evolved beyond imitation. Perhaps the real honour to Fela is not trying to become him, but becoming something boldly original — just as he once did.