Tekno Challenges Fela’s Afrobeats Legacy: ‘There Are Legends No One Speaks About

Nigerian singer Augustine Miles Kelechi, popularly known as Tekno, has challenged the widely held belief that the late music legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was the sole originator of Afrobeats.

Tekno made the remarks during an interview with Hot 97 FM in New York, where he argued that musicians from different parts of Nigeria played important roles in shaping the sounds that influenced the development of contemporary African music.

According to Ireporter Online, the singer acknowledged Fela’s immense contribution to African music and his role in taking Afrobeat to international audiences through extensive performances and tours. However, he maintained that other musical pioneers, particularly from eastern Nigeria, deserved greater recognition for their contributions.

Tekno specifically mentioned the late highlife musician Oliver De Coque, whom he identified as one of the legends who influenced his appreciation of African music while growing up.

He explained that highlife and other traditional Nigerian musical styles contributed to the evolution of what is now broadly associated with Afrobeats, arguing that history should recognise the contributions of musicians beyond Fela.

Tekno also disclosed that his song “Rara” was heavily influenced by Fela’s music, which he listened to while growing up. Despite this inspiration, he maintained that Fela should not be regarded as the only figure responsible for the origin and development of the genre.

The singer said Fela’s international exposure and global performances helped him receive significant recognition, but insisted that several other pioneers whose music influenced generations remain relatively overlooked.

He further noted that musicians such as Oliver De Coque and his contemporaries created music decades ago that continues to sound relevant, stressing that their contributions should be properly acknowledged.

Tekno’s comments have reignited conversations about the origins and evolution of Afrobeats and the contributions of different Nigerian musical traditions and pioneers to the genre’s development.