Barack Obama, former President of the United States, has honoured Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti with a new podcast chronicling his life, music, and legacy. Obama announced the release of the 12-part series titled Fela Kuti: Fear No Man in a video shared on his Instagram page. The podcast, produced by Higher Ground — the media company founded by Obama and his wife, Michelle — explores Fela’s influence on global music and his fearless activism against oppression.
Obama described Fela as a musical genius and urged fans and music lovers to listen to the series. “I want to be the first to tell you about the next podcast from Higher Ground that just came out. It’s about the legendary Fela Kuti,” he said. “He is a musical genius from Nigeria who made some music that I really love, combining funk, jazz, and soul into a whole new genre called Afrobeat. It’s a beautiful show about a unique figure in musical history who mixed art with activism. So check out Fela Kuti: Fear No Man on Audible and wherever you get your podcasts.”
The first two episodes — To Hell and Back and Becoming Fela — were released on October 15, coinciding with Felabration, the annual celebration of Fela’s legacy held from October 13 to 19. Hosted by Jad Abumrad, the podcast traces Fela’s musical evolution, his activism, and the social movements his art inspired across Africa and beyond. In To Hell and Back, Obama reflected on Fela’s enduring power to inspire through sound, saying, “Music like Fela’s can get folks moving, getting them on their feet, and making them feel alive. Our very best art and our very best music stir the soul.”
The project features a blend of archival and recent interviews with prominent global creatives, including Ayo Edebiri, Santigold, Questlove, Paul McCartney, David Byrne, and Burna Boy. It also includes contributions from Fela’s family — Yeni, Femi, and Mádé Kuti — who share personal insights into his life, music, and lasting impact.
Source: https://guardian.ng/
