Former U.S. President Barack Obama has paid glowing tribute to the late Nigerian Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, describing him as a rare musical genius who fused creativity with activism.
Obama made the remarks in a video shared on his social media accounts on Wednesday night, while announcing the release of a new podcast series titled “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man.”
The 12-episode podcast, produced under Higher Ground, a media company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, chronicles the life, music, and revolutionary spirit of Fela Kuti.
“You may have heard our documentary podcast last year about Stevie Wonder called The Wonder of Stevie. Well, I want to tell you about our next podcast that just came out — it’s about the legendary Fela Kuti,” Obama 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,” he added.
Currently on its fourth episode, the podcast explores Fela’s early years, tracing his revolutionary roots back to his childhood, when he watched his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, make history as a political icon. It also delves into Fela’s transformative period in Los Angeles in 1969, where his exposure to Black consciousness and civil rights movements reshaped his worldview and ignited his lifelong activism.
In the opening episode titled “To Hell and Back,” Obama appears among several interviewees who discuss the depth of Fela’s art. “Music like Fela’s doesn’t just move people — it makes them feel alive. Our best art and best music touch the soul,” Obama said.
According to the producers, Fear No Man draws from over 200 interviews with Fela’s family, friends, and colleagues, including Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, and Mádé Kuti. It also features contributions from international figures such as Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, Santigold, and Obama himself.
The series, the producers noted, “journeys deep into the soul of Afrobeat to examine how Fela Kuti’s music became a tool of resistance — and how art can continue to challenge oppression and inspire change amid today’s global unrest.”
Through Fear No Man, Obama’s Higher Ground celebrates Fela not just as a musician but as a fearless voice who used his art to confront dictatorship, social injustice, and corruption — a legacy that continues to influence generations worldwide.
