Femi Kuti, however, added that as soon as he formed his band, his dad’s fan base descended on him.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Femi Kuti, instrumentalist and son of Afrobeat founder, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has said he left his dad’s band to discover his own identity.
He made this known recently while appearing as a guest on Afropolitan podcast.
Speaking during the interview, the 61-year-old said while growing up everyone expected him to be like his father, adding that he was pressured to go into music.
He, however, added that as soon as he formed his band, his dad’s fan base descended on him.
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Addressing his decision to part ways with Fela’s music band, Femi said, “I did not have any possibility of my life”.
“Growing up in school, everybody would be like ‘aren’t you going to be like your dad or won’t you play music? I was pressured to be like my father.
“If I wanted to play music, I had to be Femi Kuti. I used the same mathematical thought that I cannot be Fela. I began to wear the same outfits with my father because I used to stay with my mother before I ran away to stay with him.
“I was like mini Fela because he usually dresses me like himself. I just thought I should better look for myself fast, or I’m going to be a very unhappy man. So I went back to my mother.
“The moment I formed my band, his fan base descended on me. It was very difficult to find a good write up about me then because the press hated me and at this time, there was no internet for me to defend myself.
“Being under my father, I didn’t have any possibility of my own life, including having children. I saw my life in his life,” the 63-year-old stated.
