Without Fela, Nigerian music wouldn’t have been popular – Timaya
Nigerian singer Timaya has credited the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti with playing a major role in the development and international recognition of Nigerian music.
The singer made the remarks while speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, where he reflected on Fela’s influence on Nigerian music and the inspiration the legendary musician has provided to generations of Nigerian artistes.
According to Timaya, Fela’s contribution to Nigerian music was so significant that he believes the international recognition enjoyed by Nigerian musicians today would not have been possible in the same way without him.
“Without Fela, nobody would have known us and we wouldn’t be here singing music,” Timaya said.
He described Fela as “Baba,” explaining that the late musician did not only inspire him but also influenced numerous other Nigerian artistes.
Timaya also pointed to Fela’s influence outside Nigeria, particularly in other African countries.
“I call him Baba because he didn’t inspire only me and other Nigerians,” he said, adding that people in Cameroon also hold Fela in very high regard.
The singer claimed that Fela’s music continues to receive special recognition in Cameroon, where, according to him, there is a weekend radio programme dedicated to playing the late musician’s songs.
![Blessing CEO confirms son’s death [VIDEO]](https://naijamixed.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Blessing-CEO-loses-son-120x86.webp "Blessing CEO confirms son’s death [VIDEO] 3")
“Go to Cameroon, they honour his name like God. They even have a radio programme on weekends where they only play his music,” Timaya said.
Timaya praises Fela’s legacy
Timaya’s comments reflect the enormous influence Fela has had on African music and culture.
Fela, who died in 1997, was the principal pioneer of Afrobeat, a musical style that combined elements of traditional West African music with jazz, funk and other influences.
Beyond music, Fela became known for his outspoken political views and his criticism of successive Nigerian governments.
His music frequently addressed corruption, inequality, abuse of power and other social issues, making him an influential cultural figure as well as a musician.
For Timaya, Fela’s importance goes beyond the music itself.
The singer said Fela’s contribution is one reason he would never disrespect the late musician or members of his family.
“Fela is the greatest man I can never in my life disrespect him nor his family,” Timaya stated.
Fela’s influence on Nigerian music
Fela’s career helped establish a distinctive Nigerian sound that eventually attracted audiences outside the country.
His music was particularly influential among African musicians and musicians around the world who became interested in Afrobeat and its fusion of rhythm, horns, percussion and socially conscious lyrics.
Although today’s Afrobeats is musically different from Fela’s original Afrobeat, the two are often discussed as connected parts of the broader history of Nigerian popular music.
Modern Nigerian artistes have frequently acknowledged Fela’s influence, either through direct musical references, collaborations involving his family or the incorporation of Afrobeat-inspired elements into contemporary music.
The international growth of Nigerian music has also brought renewed attention to the country’s musical history.
Artistes such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Tiwa Savage and many others have helped Nigerian music reach audiences across different parts of the world, while Fela’s earlier work remains an important part of the history that preceded this global expansion.
Timaya’s comments therefore place contemporary Nigerian music within a much longer musical tradition.
‘Without Fela, nobody would have known us’
The strongest part of Timaya’s statement was his claim that without Fela, “nobody would have known us.”
The comment should be understood as Timaya’s assessment of Fela’s importance rather than as a literal historical conclusion.
Nigerian music existed long before Fela became prominent, with established traditions including highlife, juju, palm-wine music, traditional music and other regional styles.
Musicians such as Victor Olaiya, Rex Lawson, Osita Osadebe, Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade, among others, also played important roles in the development and spread of Nigerian popular music.
Different generations subsequently built on those foundations.
Fela nevertheless occupies a particularly distinctive position because his Afrobeat sound and international career gave Nigerian music another route to global audiences.
His music was not simply entertainment. It was also a vehicle for political commentary and social criticism, giving his work significance beyond the Nigerian music industry.
Timaya’s personal connection to Fela
Timaya’s remarks also appear to reflect personal admiration for Fela’s legacy.
The singer, whose career has included dancehall, reggae, hip-hop and other African popular music influences, has been part of the generation that helped take Nigerian music to wider international audiences.
By referring to Fela as “Baba,” Timaya placed himself and contemporary Nigerian artistes within a lineage that he believes can be traced back to the Afrobeat pioneer.
His statement suggests that, in his view, today’s Nigerian musicians owe some part of their international visibility to the foundation created by earlier generations.
That perspective is significant because discussions about the global success of Afrobeats often focus primarily on contemporary stars.
Fela’s generation demonstrates that the international journey of Nigerian music did not begin with the current wave of Afrobeats.
Comments come amid discussion about Fela’s status
Timaya’s remarks also come at a time when there has been renewed public discussion among Nigerian musicians about Fela’s place in the country’s music history.
Recent reports highlighted comments by singer Tekno, who said that Fela is not and would not be his “king” of Nigerian music.
Tekno explained that he personally regarded highlife musician Oliver De Coque as his king of music and said his upbringing meant that he was not exposed to much of Fela’s music.
That position represents an individual musical preference and contrasts with Timaya’s extremely strong praise for Fela.
Timaya, by comparison, described Fela as a foundational figure whose influence extends beyond Nigeria.
The contrasting comments have contributed to wider conversations about how different generations of Nigerian musicians view the country’s musical heritage.
Fela’s influence beyond Nigeria
One of the points Timaya emphasised was Fela’s popularity outside Nigeria.
He specifically mentioned Cameroon, claiming that Fela is highly revered there and that his songs continue to receive dedicated radio exposure.
While this is Timaya’s account, it illustrates the broader regional reach Fela achieved during his lifetime.
Fela’s music travelled across Africa at a time when Nigerian music had not yet developed the enormous global commercial infrastructure associated with today’s Afrobeats industry.
His ability to attract listeners outside Nigeria helped establish the idea that Nigerian music could speak to audiences across national borders.
His political themes also resonated with listeners dealing with similar issues across Africa.
A legacy that continues
Nearly three decades after Fela’s death, his music continues to influence discussions about Nigerian culture, African identity and popular music.
His children, including Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti, have continued aspects of the Afrobeat tradition, while younger musicians have incorporated elements of his sound and message into their own work.
Fela’s former band, Africa 70, and his later musical projects remain important references in the history of African popular music.
His former Lagos nightclub and performance space, the Afrika Shrine, has also remained associated with his legacy and the cultural movement surrounding his music.
For Timaya, however, Fela’s importance can be summed up in one central idea: Nigerian musicians who are now reaching audiences around the world are part of a musical journey that Fela helped establish decades earlier.
Conclusion
Timaya has strongly credited Fela Anikulapo-Kuti with helping popularise Nigerian music and influencing generations of artistes.
His statement that “without Fela, nobody would have known us” reflects his personal assessment of the late musician’s contribution.
Historically, Nigerian music had many important traditions and musicians before, during and after Fela’s era, so the statement should not be interpreted as proof that Nigerian music literally could not have become internationally popular without him.
What is clear is that Fela was a major figure in Nigerian and African music, particularly through his development and international promotion of Afrobeat.
Timaya’s comments therefore add to the ongoing conversation about the musicians and musical traditions that laid the foundation for the global popularity of Nigerian music today.
As contemporary Afrobeats continues to reach new audiences around the world, Fela’s legacy remains a recurring reference point in discussions about where that journey began and how Nigerian music developed its distinctive international identity.
![Blessing CEO confirms son’s death [VIDEO]](https://naijamixed.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Blessing-CEO-loses-son-350x250.webp "Blessing CEO confirms son’s death [VIDEO] 5")
