Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has made a bold assertion regarding the Egypt 80 band, which he inherited from his late father, Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
In a recent interview with City 105.1 FM, Kuti claimed that Egypt 80 is Africa’s most successful band, describing his lead role as the band’s frontman.
“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?” Kuti stated, expressing his fearlessness in sharing his opinions.
Kuti mentioned the lack of recognition from African media and award organizations, even after his Grammy nomination. “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.”
He further stressed the band’s legacy, stating, “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.”
