Tekno Stirs Discussion: Fela Not Sole Afrobeats Creator, Cites Oliver De Coque's Impact

Nigerian music star Augustine Miles Kelechi, widely known as Tekno, has ignited a fresh debate within the music industry by challenging the long-held belief that the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was the exclusive originator of Afrobeats. During a recent interview on Hot 97 FM in New York, Tekno firmly asserted, "Fela is not the originator of Afrobeats."

The "Rara" hitmaker elaborated on his perspective, suggesting a regional bias in the narrative. "Lagos people and the Yorubas might say he is the one," Tekno remarked, "but I am from the East, and we had legends like Oliver De Coque. Oliver De Coque made pure highlife music. Highlife is also Afrobeats." He argued that while Fela's global tours and performances with his band brought him significant international recognition, which contributed to him receiving primary credit, many other pioneers remain unacknowledged. "Fela gets all the credit because he travelled and performed with his band around the world. To some people, he is the originator of Afrobeats, but to me, there are a bunch of them—legends that no one speaks about," he explained.

Despite acknowledging Fela's immense influence, even citing him as an inspiration for his own chart-topping single "Rara," Tekno underscored his personal musical heritage. He revealed that his father frequently played Oliver De Coque's music, stating, "I would say I was more inspired by Oliver De Coque and his peers from the East. My dad used to play his music a lot." This statement highlights a differing view on the foundational figures of the globally celebrated Afrobeats genre, bringing other prominent highlife musicians into the conversation.