The great Fela Kuti revival: Five modern artists indebted to the Afrobeat godfather
Within the musical realm, countless inspirational figures have come and gone over the years as different styles and genres rise and fall in relevancy. Even if modern groups still cite certain artists as inspiration, it is rare that those influences are completely identifiable within their material. However, one pioneering figure who seems to have retained an unavoidable influence over countless contemporary artists is the godfather of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti.
A profound musician and political activist, Kuti first rose to prominence during the politically tumultuous period of the late 1960s and early 1970s within his home nation of Nigeria. Through blending a wide range of influences, from funk to jazz, with the traditional sounds of his country, like Fuji music and Yoruba folk, Kuti blazed a trail for what he would dub ‘Afrobeat’. In the years that followed this seminal invention, Kuti crafted a range of music which reflected the political upheaval of the era in Nigeria, in addition to defining the cultural output of the nation.
Particularly after Kuti began touring his music around the Western world, various prominent artists began to take note of his progenitive sound. In those early years, the Nigerian musician impacted everybody from new wave heroes Talking Heads to ambient icon Brian Eno. Notably, though, Kuti’s incredible influence over global music scenes has never really waned. Even today, decades after his untimely passing in 1997, Kuti’s influence can still be heard within the material of various different contemporary artists.
Afrobeat is as relevant today as it has always been, and the style has repeatedly proven itself adaptable to multiple different genre conventions—hip-hop being a prominent example thanks to the popularity of artists like Burna Boy. Whereas other influences change and develop over the years, Kuti’s inherent sound is still incredibly distinguishable within the discography of certain artists, speaking to his unparalleled legacy and lasting relevance.
Five modern artists indebted to Fela Kuti:
Ezra Collective
One of the most prominent groups within the British jazz scene of recent years, the Mercury Prize-winning group Ezra Collective have taken on a wide variety of styles and artistic themes over the years, including soul, R&B, hip-hop and even calypso. However, a consistent source of inspiration for the band has been the work of Fela Kuti. In fact, back in 2023, the quintet produced a blisteringly good cover of Kuti’s 1972 track ‘Lady’ from Shakara.
Even forgetting the cover song, the tracks contained on the band’s latest record, Dance, No One’s Watching, are awash with the euphoric Afrobeat stylings that are absolutely inseparable from the work of the Nigerian music pioneer. There is no doubt that Ezra Collective owe a colossal amount of their inspiration to Kuti, and the fact that the jazz outfit has proved so popular in the present day only goes to show the timeless quality of Kuti’s style.
Nubiyan Twist
Sticking within the jazz scene of London, Nubiyan Twist are another group that have been making waves in recent years, purporting an endlessly eclectic sound played by a range of gifted musicians. Again, the band harbours the innate inspiration of Fela Kuti within their material, which is illustrated by blaring horns, an innate sense of optimism, and a range of socially conscious, politically charged lyricism.
As if the music contained within the discography of Nubiyan Twist was not enough to tip you off to the fact that they are disciples of the Nigerian star, the band regularly pay homage to their hero. Often, during their noted live performances, the band dedicates a track to Kuti, and they have even been known to cover compositions like 1973’s ‘Gentleman’ on occasion. Recently, the band even went as far as to collaborate with one of Fela’s sons, Seun Kuti, who took leadership of the Egypt 80 band following his father’s death.
TC & the Groove Family
It is difficult to imagine the vibrant highlife of Fela Kuti ever being associated with the Northern post-industrialism of Leeds, yet his music remains incredibly influential within the music scene of the city. The ten-piece collective TC & the Groove Family are among those bringing Kuti’s distinctive tones into the present day for the population of Leeds and beyond. Having explored genres like jungle and breakbeats, the heart of the band undeniably lies within the Afrobeat and highlife stylings of our favourite Nigerian artist.
The Groove Family’s 2020 track ‘Let’s Start’ is a particularly stark example of the effect Fela Kuti has had upon them. As their name suggests, the song is incredibly groovy and evocative of early Afrobeat stylings, both in sound and spirit. According to the band themselves, the song “is about moving forward as a stronger, unified society for all those who seek justice and peace; standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement”, something that Kuti could certainly relate to, given the political nature of many of his compositions.
Kokoroko
Rising stars within England’s blossoming jazz landscape, Kokoroko first established themselves with their eponymous 2019 debut. Immediately, it became clear that the seven-piece band were heavily inspired by the likes of Fela Kuti, along with fellow Afrobeat pioneers Ebo Taylor and Tony Allen. Since then, the band have been building upon his influence and taking their music in a variety of different directions. Their newly released single ‘Three Piece Suit’, for instance, is closer in style to laid-back soul jazz. However, Kuti’s inspiration still lingers in the background.
Exemplifying the innate influence of Kuti on their work, the London band once covered Kuti’s 1977 song ‘Colonial Mentality’. Taken from Sorrow, Tears, and Blood, the song is one of Kuti’s most overtly political, detailing the historical strife of Nigeria under colonial rule, as well as the problems which persisted in the nation after its independence, resulting from an oppressive military junta.
Ibibio Sound Machine
One of the more obvious artists to bear the remnants of Fela Kuti’s influence are Ibibio Sound Machine, who have been delivering infectious Afro-funk electronica for over a decade now. Their latest record, Pull The Rope, offers some insight into the kind of music Fela Kuti might have been creating had he lived long enough to witness the rise of electronic funk. While their music still sounds identifiably Kuti-based, the band have successfully updated those Afrobeat and highlife sounds for modern tastes and genre conventions, perhaps more skilfully than any other artist on this list.
The adaptability of Kuti’s sound should give some indication as to its importance and lasting relevancy. Whereas many other artists from the 1970s have been forgotten or resigned to the history books, Kuti’s music continues to inspire artists across the globe, adapting itself to a changing music scene. From the material of bands like Ibibio Sound Machine, you could easily theorise that Kuti’s music will likely never fall entirely out of favour with audiences.
