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When I left my father, his fanbase completely turned against me- Femi Kuti
Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti has opened up about the painful journey of carving out his own identity in music—an emotional path marked by rejection, public misunderstanding, and a strained relationship with his iconic father, Fela Kuti.
Speaking on the Sonically podcast, Femi reflected on his early struggles, revealing that his father refused to teach him music when he first sought guidance. Left to navigate the craft alone, he chose to blaze his own trail—an act many misinterpreted as rebellion.
“When I left my father, his fans turned their backs on me,” he recalled. “They said, ‘How dare you fight Fela?’ But it was never a fight.”
"When I left my father, his fanbase turned against me… My father said it to the press that my 1st album was rubbish…"
– Femi Kuti pic.twitter.com/J4THlse5S2
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) April 24, 2025
At the time, Femi found himself standing at a crossroads—haunted by self-doubt and burdened by the weight of legacy. With no formal musical education and the world expecting him to either emulate or worship his father’s path, he felt isolated in his quest.
“I was just lost,” he admitted. “Crying inside. They didn’t understand. They thought I was protesting against him. But he was my father before anything else. And I couldn’t turn back—I would’ve rather died than quit. It was better to die trying.”
The emotional toll wasn’t limited to public perception. Femi also recalled a moment of heartbreak when Fela publicly dismissed his debut album. “He came to the launch and told the press it was rubbish. I was so upset. I thought, ‘How could he say that?’”
Despite the sting of criticism and rejection, Femi Kuti never looked back. His story is a testament to resilience, self-belief, and the courage to step out of a giant’s shadow—even when the world misunderstands your silence as defiance.