Femi Kuti, Afrobeat musician and son of the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has revealed why his family chose not to sell their father’s music catalogue despite multiple offers.
In a recent interview with Channels TV, the Grammy-nominated singer explained that the decision was rooted in a desire to preserve Fela’s legacy. He highlighted the strong stance taken by his elder sister, Yeni Kuti, who was firmly against selling the catalogue, describing her as extremely protective of their father’s musical heritage.
Kuti clarified that while the family never sold the catalogue, they did license Fela’s music to a foreign company for a set period. He said, “We never sold Fela’s catalogue. It is under Fela’s estate controlled by the family. But we licensed the music. So, we control it. I don’t know how many years we have left but when it is done, we will take it over and license it again.”
He added that Yeni Kuti, as the eldest sibling, played a central role in safeguarding Fela’s legacy, insisting that the family retain ownership. “My elder sister, Yeni Kuti, strongly opposed selling Fela’s catalogue. She is like the caretaker. And we give her the honour as the eldest among us. It doesn’t mean that the rest of us don’t have a say, of course. But she is very protective of Fela’s legacy so she insisted we don’t sell it. I saw her view immediately and we all agreed. If we had sold it, no royalty would be coming to the family,” Kuti explained.
The musician expressed hope that future generations of the family would continue to uphold and protect Fela’s enduring legacy in the years to come.
