Seun Kuti has been carrying on the legacy of his father Fela Kuti for three decades and he continues to do so

Afrobeat fans mark the anniversary of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s death on August 2. In 1997, over a million Nigerians gathered in Lagos to pay tribute to the icon, a clear indication of his significant influence. His influence transcended the borders of Nigeria and the African diaspora, reaching audiences around the world—from Lagos to England to New York—through his powerful musical legacy.

Fela Kuti pioneered the Afrobeat music genre, a symphony of economics, politics, and a critique of neocolonialism fueled by social conscience. He channeled this into compelling singles like “Colonial Mentality,” “Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense,” and “Authority Stealing.”

Afrobeat, the musical precursor to the widespread Afrobeats genre, has gained widespread popularity in the contemporary music industry. However, its evolution reflects the complexities associated with neo-colonial influences, contrasting with the more purist stance advocated by its original progenitor, Fela Kuti.

Fela’s legacy has been largely carried on and expanded by his sons, Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti, who have both achieved significant global recognition, including historic Grammy Award nominations similar to that enjoyed by their influential father.

Last month, Seun Kuti and his band Egypt 80 performed in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park as part of the 46th annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival, continuing their North American Dey tour. This wasn’t Kuti’s first time on the Brooklyn stage, as he and Egypt 80 had previously joined Faaji Agba in 2011 for Celebrate Brooklyn!, a concert commemorating Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of independence.

“Seun and the iconic Egypt 80 brought their energetic, joyful and dynamic show to a Brooklyn audience of over 7,000 and simply took it to the next level,” said Saidah Blount, Executive Director of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!. “Seun is proving that contemporary African music is truly the pulse of what’s happening in dance music and is influencing new sounds around the world.”

Seun, the youngest of Fela’s seven children, was just 14 when his father died in 1997. Born in Fela’s famous communal complex, the Kalakuta Republic in Lagos, Seun was immersed in his father’s band, Egypt 80, from birth. Seun quickly embraced the legacy of being Fela’s son, as evidenced by his own path. Following Fela’s death, Seun assumed leadership of Egypt 80, a role he has held for the past 33 years.

“I would open Egypt because Femi has his own band,” Seun told me during our exclusive interview before his performance at Celebrate Brooklyn! “Kunle, he’s not a musician. I’ve been in the band since I was eight. This is my 33rd year in Egypt 80. The band is all I’ve ever done.”

“It was really my responsibility to keep the flame burning,” he continued, delving into his decision to carry the torch for the Fela Egypt 80 team.

Although Fela Kuti continues to enjoy worldwide recognition, particularly on major occasions such as the anniversary of his death, it is primarily among his immediate supporters, including Pan-Africanists, jazz enthusiasts, and influential creative circles.

Throughout the 1970s and until his death, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, Fela Kuti was vocal about the Nigerian government in his music, using his Afrobeat songs to criticize corruption, military oppression, and social injustice. His outspokenness led to constant harassment, intimidation, and brutal beatings during arrests. Journalists who covered his experiences, including those from reputable American publications such as New York Timesfaced threats and arrests for telling his story.

One of the most infamous incidents was the Kalakuta Republic attack in 1977, during which soldiers decimated the compound where Fela Kuti lived and brutally treated him, ultimately leading to the death of his mother, who was forcibly thrown from a second-story window and died from severe injuries.

These events caused a section of the Nigerian population to view Fela in a negative light, distancing him from mainstream Nigerian acceptance despite his global acclaim. However, even 26 years after his death, Fela Kuti’s lasting influence is evident in his recent nominations to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his universal recognition as an indisputable figure in African history.

“For me, you know, this is not our whole reality,” Seun said. “It’s not just about my father. It’s a global thing that those who are trying to change the status quo are alienated from the mainstream. The mainstream is basically corporations. So they won’t fund something that goes against their own existence. Even when my father was alive, he went through the same thing. I think he celebrated a little more after he died. We don’t leave it up to the government to decide how to value our father.”

A year after Fela’s death, his eldest daughter, Yeni Kuti, founded Felabration, an annual music festival that celebrates Kuti’s music, activism, and fight against oppression and injustice through live music performances, cultural events, and art shows. Several acclaimed artists, including Wizkid and Burna Boy, have taken to the stage. The Kutis did not wait for, nor crave, any external validation of their patriarch’s legacy.

There is definitely a stigma attached to being Fela’s child, but it is not a typical stigma. It is a stigma that is confined to a limited population. It is an inviolable goal that screams their innocence while also giving them a seat at the table of being one of the most respected African families in the world.

“I never asked myself to navigate because I was Fela’s child my whole life,” Seun said. “The stigma and the glory of being his child is something I’ve felt my whole life. Because of my class consciousness, my political consciousness, I know where it comes from. It’s not really among the people. It’s a narrative that the oppressors and their agents hold on to.”

In June I reported that Lenny Kravitz was the executive producer of Seun Kuti and Egypt 80’s new album, Even heavier (lays down head without crown)set to be released on October 4 via Record Kicks. The album’s first single, “Dey” featuring Damian Marley, is an effortless fusion of Afrobeat and reggae genres from the sons of the cultural luminaries. The album will also feature contributions from Sodi Marciszewer, Fela Kuti’s original producer and sound engineer.

“I always tell people that when they do what I do sometimes, a lot of artists think, ‘Oh, because you’re not mainstream.’ I said, ‘If you do the right things and you’re consistent, the people who need to see you will see you.’ That’s the story of Lenny and me in a nutshell. I’m really glad I had the opportunity, and it was so nice to be accepted into his space.”