Former U.S. President Barack Obama has celebrated the legacy of Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, calling him a “musical genius from Nigeria” who blended funk, jazz, and soul to create the globally recognized Afrobeat genre. In a video shared on social media, Obama promoted a 12-episode podcast titled “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,” produced by Higher Ground, the media company owned by him and Michelle Obama.
The podcast explores Fela’s life, from his childhood witnessing his mother’s historic activism to his transformative experiences in 1969 Los Angeles, where music and politics shaped him into a Pan-Africanist freedom fighter. Obama highlighted Fela’s ability to fuse art with activism, noting, “Music like Fela’s not only keeps folks moving but also makes them feel alive, touching the soul.”
Currently on its fourth episode, the series features over 200 interviews with Fela’s family, including children Yeni and Femi Kuti, and grandson Mádé Kuti, alongside scholars, activists, and artists like Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, Santigold, and Obama himself.
The podcast delves into Fela’s revolutionary impact, with episode one, “To Hell and Back,” emphasizing how his music moved hearts, changed minds, and healed deep wounds. It examines the transformative power of Afrobeat and the role of artists amid global unrest.
