Former United States President, Barack Obama, has honoured iconic Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing him as a rare figure in global music who skillfully merged art with activism.
In a video shared on his social media pages on Wednesday night, Obama referred to Fela as “a musical genius from Nigeria” who blended funk, jazz, and soul into what became the globally acclaimed Afrobeat sound.
He also encouraged music lovers to listen to a new podcast series centred on Fela’s life and influence.
The 12-episode series, titled “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,” was released under Higher Ground — a podcast platform owned by Obama and his wife, Michelle. The show celebrates the revolutionary musician’s art, courage, and political defiance.
“You may have heard our documentary podcast last year about Stevie Wonder called The Wonder of Stevie. Well, I want to be the first to tell you about the next podcast from Higher Ground that just came out. It’s about the legendary Fela Kuti,” Obama said.
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“He is a musical genius from Nigeria who made some music that I really love, combining funk, jazz, and soul into a whole new genre called Afrobeat. It’s a beautiful show about a unique figure in musical history who mixed art with activism,” he added.
Currently on its fourth episode, the podcast traces the roots of Fela’s artistic revolution, beginning with his early childhood and the influence of his mother, a women’s rights activist. It also highlights his time in Los Angeles in 1969, where music and political awakening shaped his transformation into a Pan-African freedom advocate.
In the debut episode, “To Hell and Back,” Obama is among the interviewees who celebrate Fela’s ability to inspire change through music. “Music like Fela’s is able to not just keep folks moving but also makes them feel alive, our very best art and very best music. Touch the soul,” Obama said.
According to the show’s producers, Fear No Man features appearances from members of Fela’s family, including Yeni, Femi, and Mádé Kuti, alongside renowned international artists and scholars such as Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, and Santigold.
“Drawing from over 200 interviews with Fela Kuti’s family, friends, as well as scholars, activists, and luminaries like Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, Santigold, and former President Barack Obama, Fela Kuti: Fear No Man journeys deep into the soul of Afrobeat to explore the transformative power of art and the role artists can play in this current moment of global unrest,” the producers explained in the podcast’s description.
