Tekno sparks debate over Fela’s role in Afrobeats history

Nigerian singer Augustine Okechukwu, known professionally as Tekno, has stirred a significant conversation about the origins of Afrobeat and Afrobeats, challenging the notion that Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is the sole pioneer of the sound. In a recent interview on Hot 97, Tekno discussed Fela's influence but advocated for acknowledging other artists who contributed to Nigeria's musical heritage.

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They’re legends like Oliver De Coque. He’s a legend that makes pure highlife music, and highlife is also Afrobeats.

Tekno, who grew up in eastern Nigeria, cited highlife music and legendary artist Oliver De Coque as key influences on his understanding of African music. "They’re legends like Oliver De Coque. He’s a legend that makes pure highlife music, and highlife is also Afrobeats," Tekno stated. While he credited Fela with popularizing Afrobeat internationally, Tekno insisted that other pioneers also deserve recognition for their substantial contributions.

"He obviously stamped the Afrobeats thing on the world map, but we have some other legends that sang very good music that if you heard today, you wouldn’t even believe that those songs were made in those times," Tekno explained. He noted that while Fela gained international fame with his band, many other artists from earlier generations produced influential music that is often overlooked. "People don’t know them as much, but my dad used to play these records, and it was so many artistes that made it, but Fela gets the credit because he kind of travelled and he had the band that went around the world."

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He obviously stamped the Afrobeats thing on the world map, but we have some other legends that sang very good music that if you heard today, you wouldn’t even believe that those songs were made in those times.

Tekno's remarks prompted a lively debate on social media platform X. Supporters agreed with his call for a more inclusive narrative of Nigerian music history, crediting him for highlighting earlier artists. Others accused the singer of misrepresenting music history. A segment of the discussion also focused on the distinction between the original "Afrobeat" and the broader contemporary term "Afrobeats."

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People don’t know them as much, but my dad used to play these records, and it was so many artistes that made it, but Fela gets the credit because he kind of travelled and he had the band that went around the world.