Former U.S. President Barack Obama has paid glowing tribute to late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, describing him as a musical genius from Nigeria who revolutionised both music and activism.
The tribute is featured in a newly released 12-episode podcast series titled Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, produced by Higher Ground, Obama’s media company co-founded with Michelle Obama.
In the podcast, Obama commended Fela’s masterful fusion of funk, jazz, and soul, which birthed the globally acclaimed Afrobeat sound.
He also highlighted the Nigerian icon’s influence on social consciousness and global resistance through art.
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, Obama said.
It’s a beautiful show about a unique figure in musical history who mixed art with activism.
The former U.S. leader said Fela’s music continues to inspire new generations, adding that it moves hearts, changes minds, and heals the deepest wounds.
The podcast features over 200 interviews, including Fela’s family members, close friends, scholars, and international artists such as Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, and Questlove.
It traces Fela’s journey from his early years in Nigeria to his political awakening in Los Angeles in 1969, where he transformed into a Pan-Africanist and outspoken freedom fighter.
The new series follows Higher Ground’s earlier success with The Wonder of Stevie, a documentary podcast celebrating Stevie Wonder.
