Afrobeat star Femi Kuti has revealed why his family chose not to sell the music catalogue of their father, the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, despite receiving several offers.
Speaking in a recent interview on Channels TV, the Grammy-nominated artist said the decision was driven by a desire to safeguard Fela’s legacy.
He noted that his elder sister, Yeni Kuti, strongly resisted any move to sell the catalogue, describing her as highly protective of their father’s musical heritage.
Femi explained that while the family has never sold the catalogue, they have licensed Fela’s music to an international company for a limited period.
“We’ve never sold Fela’s catalogue. It remains part of his estate, which is managed by the family. However, we licensed the music,” he said.
He added that the family still retains full control and plans to continue licensing it after the current agreement expires.
Highlighting his sister’s influence, he said, “Yeni strongly opposed selling the catalogue. She plays a key role as the eldest, and we respect that. While everyone has a say, she is deeply committed to preserving Fela’s legacy, and we all agreed with her stance. If we had sold it, the family wouldn’t be earning royalties.”
Femi also expressed hope that future generations of the family would uphold the same commitment to protecting Fela’s legacy.
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