Seun Kuti, the controversial Afrobeat singer, recently discussed leading the Egypt 80 band, which he inherited from his father, Fela Kuti.
In an interview with City 105.1 FM, the Grammy-nominated artist expressed pride in leading the band and claimed it’s Africa’s most successful. He feels his music is overlooked by African media and award organizations.
Seun hopes for more recognition to showcase African music globally. He stated:
“I won’t stop speaking my mind because I’m no longer afraid of anything you’re going to do. What are you going to do? You’re not going to play my videos? Are you not already doing this? So what are you going to do?”
He added: “Even when I got nominated for the Grammys, no award organization in the whole of Africa nominated my band in any category, knowing fully well that no matter what anybody says about me, I, Seun, am the frontman for Africa’s most successful band. 54 albums. By the time I drop my next album, it will be 55 albums.”
Seun emphasized the band’s importance:
“The band that I lead is an African musical institution. If we knew what we were doing in Africa, it would go without saying that this band should be given some kind of national recognition to keep them in the forefront of the psyche of African people all over the world, to know that Africans can achieve institutions like this. But well, that is for an African who knows what he’s doing.”
