Tekno has broken his silence on the criticism he faced over his remarks about Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s musical influence.
The ‘Yawa’ hitmaker ignited controversy in August when he
stated in an interview that the late Afrobeat pioneer neither influenced nor
inspired his sound during his formative years.
On the origin of Afrobeat and Afrobeats, the singer argued
that while Fela may receive more recognition from Yoruba people and Lagos
residents as the sole originator, other legends’ contributions are often
overlooked.
Tekno, born Augustine Miles, cited the late highlife maestro
Oliver De Coque as a major influence, noting that highlife music is also
categorised as Afrobeats.
“Legends like Oliver De Coque. He is a pure legend of
highlife music. Highlife is also Afrobeats. I would say for the people in Lagos
and Yoruba, but there are also other people we listen to. I am from the east,”
he said.
“We have our legends that sang that type of music that if
you heard today you would not belive the music were made in those times. I am
more inspired by Oliver De Coque. Fela gets the credit. There are a bunch of
them that no one speaks about.”
The comments drew criticism from Nigerians on social media,
with many accusing Tekno of disrespecting Fela’s legacy.
Some X users argued that Fela’s status as a global icon does
not require Tekno’s validation.
Responding to the backlash in an interview on Yanga FM,
Tekno insisted his words were twisted by those who misunderstood his point.
He explained that his upbringing in Bauchi, where his Igbo
family had no Yoruba-speaking neighbours, meant Fela’s music was not part of
his childhood.
“First of all I grew up in the north, I was born in Bauchi.
My dad is a proper Igbo man. No one around us speaks Yoruba. So I was basically
saying I did not hear Fela growing up. I did not say he is not the originator
of Afrobeat. It is just someone who is just sad (that misinterpreted it),” he
said.
“How can I say that I did not listen to Fela growing up and
say I said Fela is not the originator. I said Oliver De Coque. Oliver De Coque
sings highlife music. But as a Nigerian, your music is naturally categorised as
Afrobeats.”
Tekno further clarified the distinction between his sound
and Fela’s. The singer concluded by acknowledging Fela’s legacy while
reaffirming his own musical influences.
“Of every single hit record I have made, the only song I
would call record that they would say abounds like Afrobeats is ‘Rara’. Fela
did not sing song like ‘Duro’, ‘Pana’, or ‘Yawa’,” he said.
“Even after growing up, I did not listen to him. I get my
inspiration from how the country is. It just sounded like Afrobeat.
“Shout to Fela. He is a legend. He was not my king. He can
never be my king. Oliver De Coque is my king.”
AFROBEAT VS AFROBEATS
Afrobeat (no “s”) is the genre pioneered by Fela in the late
1960s and 1970s. It blends jazz, funk, and traditional West African rhythms,
typically performed by large live bands with extended instrumental sections.
Afrobeats (with an “s”) is a contemporary pop genre that
emerged from Nigeria and Ghana in the 2000s and 2010s. It fuses hip-hop,
R&B, dancehall, and local sounds into catchy, digitally produced tracks
built for clubs and global streaming. While it sometimes references Fela’s
legacy, Afrobeats is more commercial and dance-focused than its politically
driven predecessor.
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