Accoding to Global Hints, On October 22, 2025, former U.S. President Barack Obama publicly paid tribute to Fela Anikulapo Kuti, describing him as “a musical genius from Nigeria.”

The tribute was delivered via a video accompanying the launch of a new podcast series titled Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, produced by Higher Ground, the media company co-founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.

Barrack Obama praises Fela Kuti

In his remarks, Obama praised Fela’s pioneering role in creating a distinctive sound that fused funk, jazz, and soul to form Afrobeat a musical language that transcended entertainment, becoming a vehicle for protest and storytelling.

He further lauded the podcast as a “beautiful show about a unique figure in musical history who mixed art with activism.” 

The podcast spans 12 episodes and delves deep into the multifaceted life of Fela  his music, his political stance, and his enduring influence.

It includes interviews with musicians, historians, family members, and cultural voices. Among contributors are Dele Sosimi, Burn a Boy, Questlove, Paul McCartney, and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.

Produced over several years, the series presents a panoramic view of Fela’s struggle, vision, and legacy across Nigeria and the diaspora.

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Obama’s involvement adds a high-profile dimension to the project. As one of the podcast’s voices, he emphasizes the idea that Fela’s music was not just sound, but action —“music like Fela’s cannot just keep folks moving but also makes them feel alive.”

The global scope and production quality reflect the Obamas’ growing interest in storytelling that bridges culture, history, and social change.

Fela Kuti’s legacy is inseparable from his role as both an artist and a social critic. He challenged authoritarian rule, spoke for the marginalized, and built institutions like the Shrine in Lagos  a space for music, resistance, and community.

His bold approach often invited conflict with political powers, yet he remained uncompromising until his death in 1997.

With Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, audiences are offered an immersive narrative that re-centers Fela’s contributions in global cultural memory. For Nigeria and the broader African diaspora, it is both a reawakening and celebration  reminding us that music can confront power, heal, and provoke change.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

 

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