Fela 'rubbished' my music — Femi Kuti

Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti has disclosed that when he broke away from his father, Fela Kuti, and his followers to start his own band in 1986, he encountered strong resistance.

He clarified that because they perceived Fela's departure from his father's band as a rebellion, his followers turned against him.

The triple Grammy-nominated musician claimed that his father also discouraged him by releasing his debut album after he publicly criticised it.

He stated that during the album launch, his father walked to the stage and told the press that the album was “rubbish.”

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?"

He added, “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 launch 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.”

After seeing his father sing two of his successful songs, "No Place For My Dreams" and "Mind Your Business," at the African Shrine, Femi Kuti said he was then convinced of his father's approval years later.

He claimed that after that, his father returned to the media to brag about his (Femi's) musical achievements.