Femi Kuti Says Fela Told Him His Music Was ‘Rubbish’

Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti has opened up about the challenges he faced after leaving his father, Fela Kuti’s band, to form his own in 1986.

He revealed that his decision to leave was met with opposition from Fela’s fans, who viewed it as an act of rebellion.

Femi also shared a difficult moment when his father harshly criticized his debut album in the press.

During the album launch, Fela walked up to the stage and told the press that the album was “rubbish,” which deeply demoralized Femi at the time. Despite the early challenges, Femi has continued to build a successful career in Afrobeat music.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Sonically podcast hosted by Elmo Chong, Femi Kuti said, “When I left my father’s band, his fanbase turned against me. It was like, how dare you fight Fela?

“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 lost. I was crying inside me. But people didn’t understand, they thought I was doing what I was doing because I was protesting.

“I just focused and said, I can’t turn back right now. I would rather die trying. So, I just continued and I have never stopped since then.

“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 Kuti revealed that he finally received his father’s validation years after their initial conflict. This moment came when Fela Kuti watched Femi perform two of his hit tracks, “No Place For My Dreams” and “Mind Your Business”, at the African Shrine.

Femi shared that after the performance, his father went to the press and proudly boasted about his success as a musician, marking a significant turning point in their relationship.