Nigerian Afrobeat star Femi Kuti has opened up about a pivotal moment early in his career, revealing how his father, the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, harshly criticized his first album, calling it “rubbish” in front of the media.

Femi, who has successfully carved out his own path in the global music scene while preserving his father’s Afrobeat legacy, shared this deeply personal story during a recent interview. According to him, the incident was both painful and transformative, shaping his approach to music and public life.

“When I released my first album, my father told the press that it was rubbish,” Femi recounted. “It wasn’t behind closed doors. It wasn’t in private. It was in front of everybody. I was devastated.”

Femi explained that at the time, he had just begun to step out from under the immense shadow of his father, who was not only a musical giant but also a political and cultural icon in Nigeria and beyond. The younger Kuti had hoped for some form of validation from his father, but instead, he received a stinging rebuke.

“Naturally, as a son, I wanted my father’s approval. I thought he would be proud that I was taking up the mantle, continuing the Afrobeat tradition,” he said. “But hearing him dismiss my work so publicly was a crushing blow.”

However, rather than letting the criticism break him, Femi said the experience ultimately strengthened his resolve to develop his own voice and style. “It forced me to be tougher. I realized I had to find my own sound, my own identity. I couldn’t just be ‘Fela’s son’ — I had to be Femi Kuti,” he stated.

Femi also reflected on the complexities of his relationship with his father. While he acknowledges the profound influence Fela had on him musically and politically, he also points out that Fela was a very difficult figure to please. “My father was a perfectionist. He didn’t believe in sugar-coating anything. If he thought something was bad, he would say it, no matter who you were.”

The emotional honesty between father and son was, according to Femi, typical of their family dynamics. “In our family, you had to develop thick skin very quickly. Nothing was hidden, and everything was said with brutal honesty,” he said.

Today, Femi Kuti stands as one of the most respected figures in African music, with multiple Grammy nominations and a career that spans over three decades. His albums, including Shoki Shoki, Africa for Africa, and One People One World, have received international acclaim for their powerful messages and vibrant sound.

Despite his success, Femi has always made it clear that he is not trying to replicate his father’s legacy but to honor it in his own way. “Fela did what he had to do for his time,” he said. “I am doing what I have to do for my time. The struggle continues, but the methods and the sound can evolve.”

Fans and music critics alike have often compared Femi to his father, but he has consistently emphasized that his journey is unique. “Comparison is inevitable,” he admitted. “But I am not trying to outshine my father or be better than him. I am trying to be the best version of myself.”

Reflecting further on his father’s criticism, Femi now sees it as a critical moment of growth rather than a wound. “In a way, my father did me a favor,” he said. “He made me stronger. He made me realize that the world would not always give me approval, that I had to believe in myself first.”

The Afrobeat star added that he has tried to apply a different approach with his own children, who are now following in his musical footsteps. His son, Made Kuti, for instance, has already begun to make waves in the music industry. “I try to be supportive. I know the pain that comes from harsh criticism. I still push them to be excellent, but I try to do it with encouragement, not with public humiliation,” Femi shared.

Femi’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges of living up to a legendary legacy — and the courage it takes to forge a path of one’s own. Through resilience, talent, and a fierce independent spirit, Femi Kuti has not only survived the towering expectations but has also thrived, becoming a legend in his own right.