Nigerian singer Augustine Miles Kelechi, popularly known as Tekno, has ignited a fresh debate over the origins of Afrobeats by asserting that the late music icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was not the sole creator of the genre. During an interview on Hot 97 FM in New York, Tekno argued that other legends, particularly from Eastern Nigeria, played a significant role in shaping the sound that the world now knows as Afrobeats.
Tekno Challenges the Narrative on Fela's Role
Tekno directly challenged the widely held belief that Fela alone birthed Afrobeats. "Fela is not the originator of Afrobeats," he stated during the interview. He acknowledged that many people, especially in Lagos and among the Yoruba community, credit Fela with founding the genre, but he offered a different perspective based on his own Eastern Nigerian heritage.
"Lagos people and the Yorubas might say he is the one, but I am from the East, and we had legends like Oliver De Coque," Tekno explained. "Oliver De Coque made pure highlife music. Highlife is also Afrobeats." This statement positions highlife music, popularized by artists like Oliver De Coque, as an integral part of the Afrobeats lineage, suggesting that the genre's roots are more diverse than commonly acknowledged.
Global Reach vs. Musical Contribution
Tekno attributed Fela's outsized recognition to his international presence rather than his sole musical innovation. "Fela gets all the credit because he travelled and performed with his band around the world," he said. "To some people, he is the originator of Afrobeats, but to me, there are a bunch of them—legends that no one speaks about."
This observation highlights a disparity between global recognition and local musical influence. While Fela's worldwide tours and performances cemented his status as a global icon, Tekno suggests that other musicians who contributed to the genre's development have been overlooked in the historical record.
Tekno's Personal Musical Influences
Despite his critique, Tekno did not dismiss Fela's impact. He cited Fela as the inspiration behind his hit single "Rara," acknowledging the late icon's influence on his own work. However, he emphasized that his primary musical inspirations come from Eastern Nigeria.
"I would say I was more inspired by Oliver De Coque and his peers from the East," Tekno revealed. "My dad used to play his music a lot." This personal connection underscores the generational and regional influences that shape artists' musical identities, often diverging from the mainstream narrative.
The interview has sparked discussions among music fans and historians about the true origins of Afrobeats, with Tekno's comments adding a new layer to the ongoing conversation about the genre's heritage and the recognition of its pioneers.
