Former President of the United States, Barack Obama has hailed late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
According to him, Fela is a unique figure in musical history for fusing art and activism.
Obama stated this in a video posted on his social media platforms on Wednesday, October 22, night. He urged music lovers to tune in to a new podcast dedicated to Fela’s life and influence.
The series, titled “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,” is a 12-episode documentary podcast released by Higher Ground, the production company he runs with his wife, Michelle Obama.
In the podcast, Obama praised Fela’s originality in creating Afrobeat by blending funk, jazz, and soul into a genre that became a global sound and a rallying point for resistance against oppression.
“He is a musical genius from Nigeria who made some music that I really love, combining funk, jazz, and soul into a whole new genre called Afrobeat. It’s a beautiful show about a unique figure in musical history who mixed art with activism,” Obama said.
