"I Didn't Listen To Fela Growing Up" — Tekno Says Fela Is Not His King

Afrobeats star Tekno has sparked a fresh debate about musical influences after stating that Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti is not his king.

Speaking in a recent interview, the 'Pana' hitmaker opened up about his upbringing and his sound, distancing himself from comparisons to the late Abami Eda.

“Fela is not my king. I grew up in Bauchi, my dad is Igbo, and no one around us spoke Yoruba. I didn’t listen to Fela growing up. The only song of mine that sounds like Fela’s Afrobeat is ‘Rara.’ Fela didn’t do songs like ‘Duro,’ ‘Pana,’ or ‘Yawa.’”

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Tekno, who was born Augustine Miles Kelechi in Bauchi State and raised in various parts of northern Nigeria due to his father's military background, explained that his musical environment was different from the Lagos-centric Fela narrative.

The singer argued that his biggest hits have no sonic link to Fela's Afrobeat. Songs like 'Duro' (2015), 'Pana' (2016), and 'Yawa' have defined Tekno's career as a master of modern Afrobeats which is a fusion of Afropop, dancehall and R&B, which is distinct from Fela's jazz-funk-heavy, politically charged Afrobeat.

He noted that 'Rara' from his 2022 album The More The Better is the only record in his catalogue where he consciously tapped into Fela's sound and horn-driven style.

The statement has already divided fans on social media. While some supporters agree that artists should be allowed to claim their own influences without being forced to pay homage to Fela, critics argue that Fela's legacy as the pioneer who paved the way for all Nigerian artists on the world stage cannot be dismissed.

Fela Kuti, who died in 1997, remains a towering figure in Nigerian music, and the title "King of Afrobeat" is widely regarded as undisputed. 

Tekno's comment adds to the ongoing conversation about the difference between Afrobeat and Afrobeats, and whether new-generation artists owe their sound to the legendary icon.