Nigerian singer Tekno has renewed debate about musical influences in Nigeria after saying Fela Kuti was not his musical “king” and naming Igbo highlife musician Oliver De Coque as a major influence. Tekno said he grew up in Bauchi and was not exposed to Fela’s music during his childhood.
Key Highlights
- Tekno said Fela Kuti was not his musical “king” and named Oliver De Coque as a major influence.
- He said his father played De Coque’s records while he was growing up.
- Tekno said “Rara” is the only song in his catalogue that he believes sounds like Fela’s Afrobeat.
- His comments have prompted debate among Nigerian music fans on X.
- The discussion has renewed attention to the different traditions that shaped Nigerian popular music.
Tekno: ‘Fela Was Not My King’
In a clip circulating online, Tekno described a musical upbringing different from that of listeners who grew up with Fela Kuti’s music.
“Fela was not my king and he will never be my king. I grew up in Bauchi, my dad is Igbo and no one around us spoke Yoruba,” he said.
Tekno said he did not listen to Fela while growing up, and pointed instead to the music he encountered through his family and cultural background.
“I didn’t listen to Fela growing up. The only song of mine that sounds like Fela’s Afrobeat is ‘Rara’. Oliver De Coque is my king,” he said.
The comments have generated discussion about the musicians and genres that shaped Nigerian artists. Tekno has also said his father played Oliver De Coque’s records and that he was more inspired by the highlife musician.
Tekno Credits Oliver De Coque
De Coque was a prominent figure in Igbo highlife, known for his guitar-driven sound and extensive catalogue. By naming him as a major influence, Tekno drew attention to a musical tradition distinct from Fela’s Afrobeat.
The singer has acknowledged a connection between Fela’s sound and his own music, identifying “Rara” as the track in his catalogue that he believes sounds like Fela’s Afrobeat. Fans have also discussed similarities between the song and Afrobeat, while pointing to other Tekno hits such as “Duro,” “Pana” and “Yawa” as examples of his own style.
Tekno’s remarks followed an interview in which he discussed Fela’s place in music history and the influence of musicians from eastern Nigeria. Punch reported on the interview and the debate over Fela’s influence.
Fans Debate Tekno’s Comments
The remarks have drawn mixed reactions on X, with fans discussing Fela’s influence, Igbo highlife and the range of traditions that contributed to Nigerian popular music.
Some users praised Tekno for highlighting musicians from his cultural background. One commenter wrote: “I love this from Tekno supporting the root from where he comes from. Igbo to the world.”
Another user argued that some Igbo listeners grew up with Oliver De Coque, Osadebe and other highlife musicians. Other users said they became familiar with Fela’s music later in life.
Some reactions focused on “Rara,” with one fan calling it a “masterpiece.” Others said that although the song carries elements reminiscent of Fela’s sound, Tekno’s other hits show his individual musical style.
A Wider Conversation About Nigerian Music
Tekno’s comments have reopened discussion about how Nigerian music history is told. Fela Kuti is internationally recognised for pioneering Afrobeat and using music for political and social commentary, while Nigeria’s musical heritage also includes highlife, juju, fuji and other regional traditions.
For many listeners, the debate is also a reminder that an artist’s influences can be shaped by family, location, language, culture and personal exposure. As the clip circulates, fans have revisited the music of both Fela Kuti and Oliver De Coque and discussed the range of sounds behind contemporary Nigerian music.
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