Afrobeat superstar Femi Kuti revealed that his father Fela was dissatisfied with him when he left Afrobeat Pioneer’s band in 1986 to form himself.
Kuti revealed that his father fans opposed him because they saw him withdraw from his father’s band as a rebellion.
The Grammy-nominated artist said he was frustrated when his father harshly criticized his debut album, Media.
He said his father walked onto the stage during the album’s release and told the press that the album was “trash.”
Femi Kuti said in the latest episode of the Son podcast hosted by Elmo Chong: “When I left my father’s band, his fan base turned around. Like, how dare you fight Ferra?
“But it’s not a fight. I’m lost. I don’t have a formal education, how will I be a great musician? I’m lost. I cry inside. But people don’t understand, they think I’m doing what I’m doing because I’m protesting.
“I just focused on saying, I can’t look back now. I’d rather do it. So, I just kept going and I haven’t stopped since.
“My dad first heard my first album on his first album released in 1989, and he said it was trash. He came onstage and told the media. I was frustrated. He was the last guy I expected to get such a harsh review.”
Feli Kuti said a few years later, Fela was finally verified by his father as he watched him perform two hit tracks “There’s Nowhere to Go” at the African shrine.
He said the father then returned to the media to brag about his success as a musician.
