Former US President Barack Obama has honoured the legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti, describing him as an outstanding figure in music who combined art with activism.
He called Fela “a musical genius from Nigeria” who mixed funk, jazz, and soul to create Afrobeat, a sound now known all over the world.
Obama shared this in a video on his social media page on Wednesday night, encouraging people to listen to a new podcast about Fela’s life.
The 12-part series, titled “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,” celebrates the life and influence of the Afrobeat pioneer. It was released under Higher Ground, a podcast platform owned by Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama.
In the video, Obama said, “You may have heard our documentary podcast last year about Stevie Wonder called The Wonder of Stevie. Well, I want to be the first to tell you about the next podcast from Higher Ground that just came out. It’s about the legendary Fela Kuti.” He added that Fela’s music blended funk, jazz, and soul into Afrobeat and praised him as a one-of-a-kind artist who connected creativity with activism.
Now in its fourth episode, the podcast looks into Fela’s revolutionary journey, starting from his childhood, “when he was an 8-year-old boy watching his mom make history.”
It also highlights his experiences in Los Angeles in 1969, where exposure to both music and political movements transformed him from a “missionary boy” into a Pan-African freedom fighter, sparking a powerful musical movement.
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In the first episode, “To Hell and Back,” Obama appears as one of the interviewees, noting that Fela’s music could inspire people, change opinions, and bring healing.
“Music like Fela’s is able to not just keep folks moving but also makes them feel alive, our very best art and very best music. Touch the soul,” Obama said.
According to the producers, Fear No Man will feature not only artists but also members of the Kuti family, including Fela’s children Yeni and Femi Kuti, and his grandson Mádé Kuti, who is also Femi’s son.
The podcast draws from over 200 interviews with Fela’s relatives, friends, scholars, and well-known figures such as Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, Santigold, and Obama himself. It explores how Afrobeat became a global movement and how art can be a tool for change during times of social unrest.
