Nigerian singer Tekno, whose real name is Augustine Miles Kelechi Okechukwu, has spoken about the role Fela Kuti played in his music, saying the Afrobeat pioneer never inspired him.
Tekno Explains Why Fela Did Not Influence His Music
During an interview on Yanga FM, Tekno corrected what he described as a misconception about his thoughts with the pioneer of Afrobeat.
He explained that he did not listen to Fela while growing up because he grew up in northern Nigeria. However, he acknowledged Fela as a legend and maintained that he never said Fela did not originate Afrobeat. 
He said:
“First of all I grew up in the North. I was born in Bauchi, my dad is a proper Igbo man. No one around us speak Yoruba. So as I was basically saying, I no hear Fela growing up. I didn’t say he is not the originator of Afrobeats.”
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Tekno Says Only ‘Rara’ Sounds Like Fela’s Afrobeat
Tekno also explained that people naturally categorise Nigerian music as Afrobeats, regardless of the genre an artist creates. He said:
“Oliver sings highlife music but as a Nigerian, your music is naturally categorised as Afrobeats. Of every hit record I have made, the only song I would call that would sound like Fela Afrobeat is ‘Rara’.”
Tekno added that Fela did not make songs such as ‘Duro’, ‘Pana’ or ‘Yawa’, which he said represent the kind of music he created. He noted:
“Fela no sing song like ‘Duro’, ‘Pana’ or ‘Yawa,’ he didn’t. We all love Fela but I didn’t listen to him growing up, even after I grow up, I still no listen to am.”
‘Oliver De Coque Is My King’ – Tekno
Tekno further explained that he did not draw inspiration from Fela when he made ‘Rara’, despite the song sounding like an Afrobeat record. He said:
“I didn’t get inspirations from Fela who he got inspiration on how the situation of the country is when he sang the song ‘Rara,’ he said.”
“How would I say that Fela is not the Originator of Afrobeat.”
Tekno reiterated that he considers Fela a legend but said the musician did not influence his musical journey.
Tekno said that based on the music he listened to while growing up, Fela was never his king.
“And with the kind of music I hear, he wasn’t my king. He never was my king and he would never be my king. My king is Oliver De Coque.”
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