Monday, September 28, 2026 - Singer Timaya has said that Nigerian music wouldn’t have been popular as it is today without the contributions of the late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Speaking in an episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence
podcast, Timaya said Fela inspired him and many Nigerian artists.
He noted that Fela’s influences was global, claiming that he
is honoured like “a god” in Cameroon.
Timaya emphasised that because of Fela’s immense
contributions to Nigerian music, he could never disrespect him nor his
family.
“Without Fela, nobody would have known us and we wouldn’t be
here singing music. I call him Baba because he didn’t inspire only me and other
Nigerians, go to Cameroon they honour his name like God. They even have a radio
program on weekends where they only play his Music. Fela is the greatest man I
can’t never in my life disrespect him nor his family,” he said.
Afrobeats singer Tekno recently reaffirmed his early
statement that Fela isn’t his “king” of Nigerian music.
Speaking in a recent interview with Yanga FM Lagos, Tekno
maintained that he regards Oliver De Coque as his true king of music.
He explained that he is an Igbo, who grew up in Kaduna and
never heard of Fela’s music.
“Fela is not and will never be my king [of music]. Oliver De
Coque is the king for me,” he stated.
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