Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti popularly known as Femi Kuti is a famous Nigerian afrobeat musician, singer, song writer, recording artist, stage performer and a human right activist. He was born on 16th June 1962 in London, United Kingdom. He is currently 56 years old. He is the eldest son of afrobeat music legend Fela Kuti and a grandchild of political campaigner, women’s rights activist and traditional aristocrat Funmilayo Ransome Kuti.
Femi Kuti is a Nigerian musician born in London and raised in Lagos. His mother soon left his father, taking Femi Kuti to live with her. In 1977, Femi Kuti chose to move in with his father. Femi Kuti started playing the saxophone at the age of 15 years old and eventually became a member of his father’s band.
Like his father, Femi Kuti has commitment to social and political causes throughout his career. In the late 1980s, Femi Kuti created his own band “Positive Force” with Dele Sosimi, a former keyboard player of his late father Fela Kuti. His international career began in 1988 when he was invited by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and Christian Moussert to perform at the Festival d’Angoulême in France, the New Morning Club in Paris and the Moers Festival in Germany.
In 2001, Femi Kuti collaborated on his album “Fight to Win” with a number of United States musicians, including Common, Mos Def and Jaguar Wright. In 2002, Femi Kuti contributed a remake of his father’s classic song “Water No Get Enemy” to “Red Hot & Riot” a compilation CD in tribute to his beloved father Fela Kuti, the music was released by the Red Hot Organization and MCA.
In similar fashion as his father, there have been complaints of Femi Kuti’s criticism of his homeland Nigeria, specifically in the song “Sorry Sorry” along with “What Will Tomorrow Bring” and “97”. Femi has been nominated for a Germany award four times in the world music category in 2003, 2010, 2012 and 2013 respectively but has never won any.
On 19th December 2014, a management deal between Chocolate City Music Group and Femi Kuti was reached. The news was announced via the Chocolate City Music Group official Instagram account, as well as Audu Maikori social media accounts. On 22nd November 2014, Femi Kuti performed the BMO event with a captivating performance where he shared the same stage with his new label mate MI Abaga.
On 24th April 2015, Femi Kuti alongside with his brother Seun Kuti performed together in the 2 Kings concert. The concert is significant as it is the first concert that the brothers have performed together. On 15th May 2017, Femi Kuti was referred to in the Guinness world record under the catalog of a single note held on a sax in a method called Circular Breathing. He set the records at 51 min 35 seconds. Femi Kuti is currently married with two grown up children.
Femi Kuti is currently one of the richest and most influential artist in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
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