Femi Kuti: Filling Fela’s shoes is not my purpose in life

Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, afrobeat musician and son of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, afro legend, says he is not in competition with his father or trying to step into his father’s shoes.

Femi said this in response to a fan who had tweeted to compare his talent to his father’s.

I respect @femiakuti and @realseunkuti musical prowess. But the truth is that they've not been able to occupy their father's shoes

— WiNNY Uwagbale ✊🇳🇬 (@winnyuwagbale) February 17, 2016

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Femi quickly responded saying he had no intention to replicate his father.

“My purpose in life isn’t to be or copy my father bt 2 BE MYSELF.I love my father & I’m NOT in competition wt him.”

My purpose in life isn't to be or copy my father bt 2 BE MYSELF.I love my father & I'm NOT in competition wt him. https://t.co/i6vd7ZzWN3

— Femi Anikulapo-Kuti (@Femiakuti) February 17, 2016

“Mr Anderson I should NOT really reply u but u tagged me. 4 ur info I’m NOT trying 2 fill my father’s shoes,

“I’ve got mine to fill/wear. It’s never been my intention to be my father but to be myself and find fulfillment.”

Marking the 42nd anniversary of the burning of Kalakuta which served as his father’s residence during his lifetime, the 53-year-old described the act as injustice.

2day February 18th makes it 42years since d burning of my father's house Kalakuta .Still fresh in my mind. Never 2 b forgotten. Injustice.

— Femi Anikulapo-Kuti (@Femiakuti) February 18, 2016

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Born in London, the songwriter began playing the saxophone at 16 and eventually became a member of his father’s band.

He currently has a deal with Chocolate City Music and shares his father’s passion of political activism.

The songwriter who was a judge in the third season of Nigerian Idol, a talent hunt show, performed on stage with Seun Kuti, his brother, for the first time in 2015.