- Femi Kuti had revealed that the family refused to sell Fela’s catalogue to preserve his legacy
- Yeni Kuti had strongly opposed the sale and played a key role in influencing the family’s decision
- The family had instead licensed the music temporarily while retaining full ownership and future control
Afrobeat star Femi Kuti has disclosed why his family turned down multiple offers to sell the music catalogue of his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, despite its significant commercial value.
Speaking in a recent interview with Channels Television, the Grammy-nominated artist explained that the primary motivation behind the decision was to preserve the legacy of the Afrobeat legend.
According to Femi, the family remains committed to maintaining control over Fela’s body of work, ensuring that its cultural and historical significance is not compromised.
“We never sold Fela’s catalogue. It is under Fela’s estate controlled by the family. But we licensed the music,” he said.
He clarified that while the catalogue has not been sold outright, the family entered into a licensing agreement with an international company for a specified period. This arrangement allows them to retain ownership while still benefiting from global distribution and royalties.
“So, we control it. I don’t know how many years we have left but when it is done, we will take it over and licence it again,” he added.
Femi also highlighted the influential role played by his elder sister, Yeni Kuti, in safeguarding their father’s legacy. He described her as a central figure in the decision-making process, noting her strong opposition to selling the catalogue.
“My elder sister, Yeni Kuti, strongly opposed selling Fela’s catalogue. She is like the caretaker, and we give her that honour as the eldest among us,” he explained.
He further noted that her stance resonated with the rest of the family, who ultimately agreed that selling the catalogue could undermine both financial benefits and cultural ownership.
“If we had sold it, no royalty would be coming to the family,” Femi remarked.
The musician expressed hope that future generations of the Kuti family would uphold the same principles, continuing to protect and promote Fela’s enduring legacy.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, widely regarded as the pioneer of Afrobeat, remains one of Africa’s most influential musical figures, and his catalogue continues to hold both artistic and commercial significance worldwide.
“Any artiste that snubs is not talented,” Seun Kuti criticises colleagues, hails Fireboy DML
Earlier, TheRadar reported that Nigerian singer and activist, Oluwaseun Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known as Seun Kuti, hailed the respectful nature of Fireboy DML and criticised colleagues who are not.
Seun Kuti, who is the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela, recently featured as a guest artiste on a track on Fireboy’s eponymous album, Adedamola.