Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti aka Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti, professionally known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, composer, bandleader, and human rights activist born on June 16, 1962, in London, England. He is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti and one of the most prominent torchbearers of Afrobeat on the global stage.
Femi Kuti was raised in Lagos, Nigeria, where he was immersed early in music, politics, and activism. He studied clarinet and trumpet and joined his father’s band Egypt ’80 in the early 1980s, serving as bandleader before eventually breaking away to establish his own musical identity.
In 1986, he formed his band Positive Force, using music as a platform to address corruption, social injustice, poor governance, and human rights abuses in Nigeria and Africa at large. While rooted in classic Afrobeat, Femi’s sound incorporates jazz, funk, soul, and contemporary influences, setting him apart from his father while maintaining ideological continuity.
His discography includes critically acclaimed albums such as Shoki Shoki, Fight to Win, Africa for Africa, Day by Day, No Place for My Dream, Stop the Hate, and Legacy+ (with Made Kuti). His lyrics are known for their directness, urgency, and unapologetic political stance.
Beyond music, Femi Kuti is a vocal activist who has faced harassment and intimidation due to his outspoken criticism of government corruption and abuse of power. Despite this, he remains committed to advocacy through art, continuing the revolutionary spirit of the Kuti legacy.
He is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most respected live performers and a key figure in sustaining Afrobeat as both a musical and political force in the modern era.
