Being Fela Kuti’s son opened doors. It also meant that everything Femi Kuti played would be compared to his father. For nearly four decades, he has kept playing anyway.
Femi Kuti is Fela’s eldest son, a saxophonist, singer and bandleader who has built his own career in Afrobeat.
Growing up in Afrobeat
Femi grew up around his father’s music and joined Fela’s band, playing saxophone. He learned the discipline of the Afrobeat groove and the politics that came with it.
Positive Force
In 1986, Femi formed his own band, Positive Force. The decision caused tension with his father at first, but it allowed Femi to develop his own style: tighter arrangements, shorter songs and an energetic stage show.
His first record reached international audiences in 1995 through Tabu and Motown.
The New Afrika Shrine
After Fela died in 1997, his original Shrine had already been closed. In 1998, Femi and his family opened the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos to honour their father. It became the home of Felabration, the annual week-long festival around Fela’s birthday on 15 October, and a regular venue for Femi’s performances.
Grammy nominations
Femi has been nominated for the Grammy six times. Nominated albums include Fight to Win, Day by Day, Africa for Africa, No Place for My Dream and Legacy +, a joint project with his son Made Kuti.
The nominations helped establish him as an international artist in his own right.
His message
Like his father, Femi sings about corruption, poverty and the failures of African governments. He is less confrontational in person than Fela was, but his lyrics are direct.
Three generations
Femi’s son, Made Kuti, is also a musician. Their joint album Legacy + showed three generations of the Kuti family’s music under one roof. Femi’s brother Seun Kuti leads Egypt 80, their father’s last band.
On stage
Femi’s live shows are known for their energy. He dances, sings and plays saxophone, sometimes holding a single note for a very long time using circular breathing, to cheers from the crowd.
Discipline
Femi is known for practising the saxophone for hours every day and for his stamina on stage. He has talked about treating music as a daily discipline.
His own name
For many listeners abroad, Femi was their route into Afrobeat. They heard the son first and went back to the father later, which may be the best compliment a musician in Fela’s family could receive.
