Tekno Challenges Fela’s Afrobeats Legacy, Says Oliver De Coque Deserves More Credit
Nigerian singer Tekno has sparked a fresh debate about the history of African music after challenging the widely held belief that late music icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was the sole originator of Afrobeat.
Speaking during an interview on HOT 97, Tekno acknowledged Fela’s enormous influence but argued that the development of African music cannot be attributed to one musician alone.
Tekno’s comments have attracted attention because Fela is widely recognised as the pioneer of Afrobeat, a genre he developed through the fusion of West African musical traditions, jazz, funk and socially conscious songwriting.
However, Tekno argued that other Nigerian musicians also played important roles in shaping the musical traditions that eventually influenced contemporary Afrobeats.
He specifically highlighted legendary Eastern Nigerian highlife musician Oliver De Coque, whose music was a major influence on him while growing up.
Tekno explained that his musical upbringing was different from that of many artists from Lagos and the Southwest.
According to the singer, his father regularly played Oliver De Coque’s records at home, exposing him to the highlife legend’s music from an early age.
Tekno argued that there were several older Nigerian musicians whose contributions are not discussed enough when the country’s musical history is being examined.
He believes their music helped establish musical foundations that later generations of Nigerian artists built upon.
Despite challenging Fela’s position as the sole originator, Tekno did not dismiss his importance.
The singer acknowledged that Fela played a crucial role in taking Afrobeat beyond Nigeria and putting the sound on the international map.
Tekno also revealed that his own hit song “Rara” was heavily inspired by Fela’s music, demonstrating the influence the late icon continues to have on contemporary Nigerian artists.
Tekno suggested that Fela’s extensive international touring and performances with his band helped him gain recognition around the world.
In his view, this global exposure contributed to Fela becoming the figure most closely associated with the origins of Afrobeat, while other musicians who contributed to Nigeria’s musical development remained less recognised internationally.
His argument is therefore less about removing Fela from music history and more about expanding the conversation to include other pioneers.
The discussion also touches on an important distinction.
Afrobeat, the genre strongly associated with Fela, is a specific musical tradition pioneered and developed by Fela and his contemporaries.
Afrobeats, the broader contemporary African pop movement, incorporates elements of highlife, Afrobeat, dancehall, R&B, hip-hop and other sounds.
Tekno’s comments appear to focus on the wider musical lineage that contributed to today’s Afrobeats rather than suggesting that Fela had no role in creating Afrobeat.
Tekno’s remarks have reignited an important conversation about how African music history is documented and which artists receive recognition.
While Fela’s contribution and global influence remain undeniable, Tekno believes the achievements of musicians such as Oliver De Coque and other overlooked Nigerian legends should receive greater attention.
The debate is unlikely to end with Tekno’s comments, but it could encourage a broader appreciation of the many musical traditions and artists that helped shape the sound now known around the world as Afrobeats.
