Former United States President Barack Obama has paid glowing tribute to Nigeria’s Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, describing him as a unique genius whose music blended creativity with political activism.
Obama made the remarks on Wednesday night in a video posted on his social media platforms, where he announced the launch of a new podcast series dedicated to Fela’s extraordinary life and enduring legacy.
The 12-part podcast titled Fela Kuti: Fear No Man is produced by Higher Ground, the podcast company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.
According to Obama, the series celebrates Fela’s impact on global music and his fearless fight for justice and human rights in Nigeria and across Africa.
“You may have heard our documentary podcast last year about Stevie Wonder called The Wonder of Stevie,” Obama said in the video. “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.”
He described Fela as “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.”
Obama praised Fela as a powerful voice for the oppressed, noting that his art carried deep social and political meaning that transcended generations.
“It’s a beautiful show about a unique figure in musical history who mixed art with activism,” he said.
The podcast is already in its fourth episode and delves into key moments that shaped Fela’s revolutionary outlook.
According to The Africa Standard, episode four explores how Fela’s childhood experiences influenced his later defiance of oppressive power, starting with his early exposure to activism through his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
The series recounts how an eight-year-old Fela watched his mother, one of Nigeria’s foremost women’s rights activists, challenge British colonial rule and inspire a movement.
It also examines his time in Los Angeles in 1969, where exposure to the Black Power movement transformed him from a young musician into a Pan-African freedom fighter.
The transformation marked the beginning of Fela’s fearless campaign against military dictatorship and corruption in Nigeria through his powerful lyrics and electrifying performances.
In the first episode titled To Hell and Back, Obama joins a lineup of prominent voices reflecting on the global influence of Fela’s music.
The former U.S. president said Fela’s music had the rare ability to move hearts, change minds, and heal the deepest wounds.
“Music like Fela’s is able to not just keep folks moving but also makes them feel alive,” Obama said. “Our very best art and very best music touch the soul.”
Producers of the podcast revealed that Fear No Man is based on extensive research and features over 200 interviews with people who knew and worked with Fela.
Among those featured are members of the Kuti family including his children Yeni Kuti and Femi Kuti, and his grandson Mádé Kuti, who continues his grandfather’s musical legacy.
The podcast also includes contributions from global stars such as Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, and Santigold, who share how Fela’s sound influenced their artistry.
According to the show’s producers, the goal of the series is to explore how Fela’s music continues to inspire resistance, freedom, and creativity in a world still grappling with social and political unrest.
“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,” the producer said.
The podcast highlights how Fela used music as a weapon to challenge oppression, injustice, and the abuse of power during some of Nigeria’s most turbulent years.
Listeners can expect to hear rare recordings, intimate stories, and fresh insights into the life of the man who made the world dance while confronting tyranny with fearless courage.
Obama’s tribute underscores Fela’s global impact as one of Africa’s most important cultural icons, whose legacy continues to inspire musicians and activists around the world.
By spotlighting Fela’s message of freedom and resistance, the podcast reaffirms the power of art as a force for change and unity in challenging times.
