Afrobeat icon, Femi Kuti has disclosed how his father, Fela Kuti described his song as “rubbish” after he left the Afrobeat pioneer’s band to form his own in 1986.
According to Femi Kuti, when he left his father’s band, his fans ganged up against him and attacked him several times.
Femi Kuti disclosed how his father Fela also demoralized him when he dropped his debut album after he harshly criticized it in the press.
He further disclosed that the music legend also climbed on stage to tell the press his song was “rubbish” hence it should not be patronized.
Speaking in a recent episode of the Sonically podcast hosted by Elmo Chong, Femi Kuti said, “When I left my father’s band, his fanbase turned against me. It was like, how dare you fight Fela?
“But it wasn’t a fight. I was lost. I had no formal education, how was I going to become a great musician? I was lost. I was crying inside me. But people didn’t understand, they thought I was doing what I was doing because I was protesting.
I just focused and said, I can’t turn back right now. I would rather die trying. So, I just continued and I have never stopped since then.
“The first time my father heard my first album at the launching in 1989, he said it was rubbish. He went on stage and said it to the press. I was so upset. He was the last person I expected such a harsh review from.”
