Seun Kuti

Seun Kuti is the son of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Fela Kuti, known as “The Black President,” a revolutionary, Nigerian musician, and activist who pioneered Afrobeat. Like his father, Seun uses music as a tool to advocate for the empowerment of his people. Fela Anikalapo Kuti has become an icon of a resilient Africa that believes in its ability to confront injustice, corruption, and the arrogance of power using its own strength and culture.

Seun Kuti, a saxophonist and singer, draws inspiration from various sources, including Miles Davis, the Afro-American musician and poet Gil Scott-Heron, and rappers Timbaland and Dr. Dre, while remaining true to his father’s spirit. In his work, he acknowledges the history of black music, infusing the rhythms of rap and new soul into the Afrobeat locomotive.

Apart from his musical prowess, the lyrics of Seun’s songs are striking, continuing the discourse initiated by Fela. “Every African has problems: housing problems, street problems, work problems, school problems, ethnic problems, problems with governments.” After his father’s death, Seun, at the age of 15, took the microphone before a crowd of thousands of Nigerians dressed in white and delivered a powerful speech: “Now I want to tell you something. Fela is not dead; he will live forever in Africa. He will live in Africans. He will live in the hearts of black people who believe that being black is beautiful, that being black is great. He wanted Nigerians to govern this country because they have the right, not others.”

In an era where Afrobeat is being rediscovered and cited across various modern music genres, from hip-hop to techno and all of tropical music, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 embody the authentic, original roots, invigorated by youthful energy and a remarkable openness to artistic collaborations and influences.