Nigerian singer and producer Tekno has sparked fresh debate in the music community after stating that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is not the sole originator of Afrobeat, pointing instead to other lesser-celebrated legends, particularly from Eastern Nigeria.
In a recent interview, the “Pana” hitmaker was asked about Fela’s widely accepted status as the father or creator of the Afrobeat sound. Tekno responded carefully but firmly, acknowledging Fela’s global impact while arguing that the story is more complex and regionally diverse.
“I don’t know, to be honest. There are legends like Oliver De Coque that made pure highlife music, and highlife is also Afrobeat,” Tekno said. “So I would say for the people in Lagos and Yorubas, a record of mine that is ‘Rara’ is heavily inspired by Fela because I heard his tune and he is a legend. He stamped the Afrobeat thing on the world map.”
The artist, who hails from the South-East, added: “But there are other people that we listen to from the East, because I am from the East, and we had legends that sang some type of music that if you heard today, you wouldn’t even believe that this music was made in those times. I feel like they don’t know these guys or maybe they didn’t come across them.”
Tekno revealed that his own musical foundation was shaped more by highlife icon Oliver De Coque than by Fela. “I would say I was more inspired by Oliver De Coque because my dad used to play his records. There were so many artists that nobody knows about, and Fela gets the credit because he kind of travelled and had the band and went around the world.”
He concluded: “For some people, he is the originator of the Afrobeat thing, but to me, there is still a bunch of them and a lot of legends no one speaks about.” In circulating clips, his remarks have been summarised as: “Fela is not the originator of Afrobeat. Maybe to people in Lagos and the Yorubas they might say he’s the one but I am from the East, we had legends like Oliver.”
The comments, which began circulating widely on August 27, 2026, have reignited longstanding discussions about the distinction between classic Afrobeat (the genre pioneered and named by Fela Kuti in the late 1960s, blending highlife, jazz, funk and traditional Yoruba rhythms) and contemporary Afrobeats (the broader, more commercial West African pop sound that rose in the 2000s and 2010s).
Critics and fans have noted that interviewers often conflate the two terms, a point some observers say Tekno appeared to engage with rather than strictly correct.
Music historians and commentators have long recognised that while Fela popularised and internationalised Afrobeat through his politically charged performances and extensive touring, highlife traditions from both Western and Eastern Nigeria, as well as Ghanaian influences, form important roots of the sound.
Oliver De Coque, known for his intricate guitar work and highlife hits, is frequently cited among Eastern Nigerian legends whose contributions receive less global attention than Fela’s.
Tekno’s remarks come as he continues his return to the spotlight following health challenges and the release of new material. The conversation has drawn mixed reactions online, with some praising him for highlighting under-recognised artists and others defending Fela’s foundational role in the genre that continues to influence global music.
The debate underscores ongoing conversations about credit, regional narratives, and the complex evolution of Nigerian popular music.
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