Nigeria afro beat singer Tekno has sparked reactions online after explaining why he does not consider Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti his “king.”
According to Tekno, he grew up in Bauchi, where his father is Igbo and Yoruba was not spoken around him.
“I didn’t grow up listening to Fela. I grew up in Bauchi. My dad is Igbo, and nobody around me spoke Yoruba,” he explained.
The singer also noted that “Rara” is the only song in his catalogue that sounds like Fela’s Afrobeat, stressing that Fela did not make songs like “Duro,” “Pana” or “Yawa.”
His comments have sparked discussions online about musical influences, upbringing and the different sounds that have shaped Nigeria’s music industry.
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“Fela was not my king & he will never be my king. I grew up in Bauchi, my dad is Igbo & no one around us spoke Yoruba. I didn’t listen to Fela growing up, the only song of mine that sounds like Fela’s Afrobeat is Rara. Oliver De Coque is my king.”
– Tekno#Tekno #FelaKuti pic.twitter.com/tf4DdFT7MV
— NewsClick Nigeria Media (@NewsClickng) September 25, 2026
Here are some of the comments on X;
Afro means roots Nigerian music in native African rhythms, polyrhythmic drumming, and Black pride, serving as both a political identity for Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and an umbrella for modern global Afrobeat,they are just tribalistic,clout chasers the biggest African act is Afro ..
— Green pasture_bale (@greengizie) September 25, 2026
I’m Yoruba and I never listened to Fela growing up, Wizkid made me knew about Fela.
— BAKUSHI (@Lifeiseazii) September 25, 2026
Different upbringing, different sound in the room,
You can’t crown a king from somebody else’s tune.
If Oliver raised your ear, let Oliver wear the crown,
You don’t owe anybody Fela just ’cause they love the sound. 🔥— Zizv MLG (@BabatundeZiza) September 25, 2026
I think some of you are being delusional here, someone said he didn’t listen to fela growing up but still acknowledged his legacy just not his king….Fela aside Some no like Wizkid while some of us make Davido our king, does that mean we don’t acknowledge Wizkid legacy? NO!
— PRESI BANKS💎🤍 🕊️ (@pamilerin_paul) September 25, 2026
I’m Yoruba and I never listened to Fela growing up, Wizkid made me knew about Fela.https://t.co/J54cDiDcC3
— Blavkboi (@Blavkboivi) September 25, 2026
First time hearing about this Oliver toothpaste
— Castre (@Castreybt) September 25, 2026
A lot of American artists never listened to Micheal Jackson while grown up yet they still give him his flowers. You don’t listen to Fela but your RARA sound like Fela afroabeat. 🙄 Unnecessary arr0gance saying sh!t.
— Miguel (@its_Miguel04) September 25, 2026
All these Issues will NEVER end without restructuring of the colonial slave named country called Nigeria to regional government with self determination rights! Let all region rule over themselves preserve their indigenous cultures and Celebrate their own indigenous heroes
— Spiritual Herb (@Leaf_Herb) September 25, 2026
Fela gained immense popularity by pioneering Afrobeat,fearlessly protesting political corruption and delivering hypnotic,brass-heavy, polyrhythmic live performances.
How may of them had the courage when FELA had it ?— Green pasture_bale (@greengizie) September 25, 2026
The only difference between VDM and Fela is music.
They are both activist and we glorify activists a lot in this country.Many artists came before Fela and during Fela’s reign. So, if someone says Fela isn’t their GOAT, no one should take it personally.
— NineT6ix 🦅 (@Salih9t6) September 25, 2026
I started to know how great fela was musically because of burnaboy music patterns and how Wizkid speak highly of him, down him we were told of how he challenged the government with his music. There’s no lie what he said.
— Alan Danzy (@ChineduMordili) September 25, 2026
Growing up, Fuji musicians were popular in our homes than than Fela. Most of us can easily tag along singing the likes of Barrister, Kolintin etc.
— LEGALLYSPEAKING (@AbdulfatahHB) September 25, 2026
Bro to be honest I never heard fela songs
Growing up in imo state it was Oliver d coque nd osadebe and oriental brothers I hear all the time from neighbors to radio and tv
Funny enough it was more of fela activism and him calling out the government we Dey hear— Africa’s Best DJ (@BigSquareAB) September 25, 2026
Bro their is no effect. Tekno was speaking from his upbringing as a child born in the north and grew up in an Eastern household. Is it a must that every artist refer to fela as the founder of afrobeat? Tekno was just talking from his own experience
— retired barcelona fan (@bobxl6) September 25, 2026
Something most of you don’t understand, Fela means nothing to most of people in the country. Most of us never even heard of him until we grew up, except maybe in passing.
The only reason why we kept quiet is that music is the SW scene, and he seems to be your Jesus.— Ermes (@OfficialErmes) September 25, 2026
Nigerians don’t like hearing the truth
No matter how much you explain to them
Most songs nowadays are not even Afrobeats
But because it’s from Nigeria you hear them saying it’s afrobeat— TH💫 (@Tinnyh01) September 25, 2026
aside this, the majority of nigerians don’t even listen to fela music, in fact, he was more popular because of his activism.
you can tell me that fela influenced me as a kid, i grew up listening many others acts rather than the fela
— nuel.js 👨🏾💻 (@chiwendu__) September 25, 2026
Bro, fela is only god in the west, we don’t know him here in the east, I’m sure north and south don’t know him either, do don’t get angry or feel disrespected when other people said they don’t know him,
— Boi Remy (@Remy_Da_Angel) September 25, 2026
