Seun Kuti slams Afrobeats artists calling themselves 'New Fela'
Seun Kuti has warned Afrobeats artists to stop comparing themselves to his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Speaking on the Hits Don't Lie podcast published January 16, 2026, the Grammy-nominated singer said sampling Fela's music doesn't grant equal status. 'A few people have done good samples of Fela's music. But the only critique that I have is that sampling Fela doesn't make you Fela,' Kuti stated. 'So, people should stop saying that they are my dad. That is crazy. It crazy when people say that they are the 'New Fela.' Where is the 'Bob Marley'? It is only in Nigeria you hear such. We so wild stuff here. People are wild.' Several Afrobeats artists including Wizkid and Burna Boy have drawn comparisons with Fela after sampling him. Street-hop artists Bella Shmurda and Portable have publicly referred to themselves as 'New Fela'. Rapper Olamide sparked controversy late last year after declaring Wizkid 'the greatest Afrobeats artist after Fela'. Kuti emphasized he is not against sampling Fela's works, but against the comparisons. Is this about gatekeeping Fela's legacy or are current Afrobeats artists truly disrespecting the pioneer's memory?