Obama Celebrates Fela Kuti In New Podcast

Former US President Barack Obama has honoured Nigerian Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti in a new podcast titled Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, describing him as a rare artist who used music as a tool for resistance and change.

Obama made the tribute in a video shared on his social media platforms on Wednesday night, encouraging listeners to tune in to the 12-part podcast series produced by Higher Ground, the media company he co-founded with his wife, Michelle Obama.

The former president hailed Fela as a musical pioneer who created Afrobeat by blending funk, jazz, and soul with African rhythms. He said Fela’s art was more than entertainment — it was a movement that spoke truth to power and inspired generations around the world.

The Fear No Man podcast explores the life, struggles, and legacy of the Afrobeat icon, tracing his evolution from a young boy influenced by his activist mother to a global symbol of freedom and defiance. It delves into key moments in his journey, including his time in Los Angeles in 1969, where music and politics merged to shape his Pan-Africanist identity.

In the opening episode, Obama reflects on Fela’s power to connect with people through his music, saying that great art, like Fela’s, not only moves the body but stirs the soul.

The series features interviews with members of the Kuti family — including Yeni, Femi, and Mádé Kuti — as well as global artists and cultural figures such as Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, and Santigold.

Produced from over 200 interviews, the podcast aims to celebrate Fela’s enduring influence while exploring how art can challenge oppression and inspire hope in today’s world.