Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti has opened up about a difficult chapter in his career—his split from his father Fela Kuti’s band and the criticism he faced afterward.
Femi revealed that after he left his father’s band in 1986 to start his own musical journey, he encountered harsh reactions from Fela’s loyal fanbase, including multiple confrontations and attacks.
He recalled how deeply disheartened he was when his father, the Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, publicly dismissed his debut album, calling it “rubbish.” According to Femi, Fela didn’t just make private remarks—he openly criticized the album in front of the media and discouraged people from supporting it.
In a recent appearance on the Sonically podcast hosted by Elmo Chong, Femi shared his emotional struggles during that time, stating:
“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.”
Despite the setback, Femi stayed committed to his path and has since built his own respected legacy in the Afrobeat world.