Tekno challenges Fela Kuti's sole claim to Afrobeats origins

Nigerian musician Tekno has sparked a debate regarding the origins of the Afrobeats genre, arguing that the musical evolution should not be attributed solely to the late Fela Kuti. During a radio interview on Hot 97 FM in New York, Tekno acknowledged Kuti’s massive influence and his role in taking Afrobeat to an international audience, noting that his own song ‘Rara’ was heavily inspired by the legend.

However, Tekno contended that Kuti received disproportionate credit because of his global travels and visibility. He suggested that other musicians, particularly from southeastern Nigeria, played vital roles in shaping the sounds that inform modern Afrobeats. He specifically cited highlife legend Oliver De Coque as a major personal influence, stating that the music from the East deserves greater recognition in the broader history of African popular music.