WASHINGTON (Chatnewstv.com) — Former United States President Barack Obama paid a personal tribute to late Afrobeat pioneer and political activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti this week, hailing the Nigerian musician as a “musical genius” in a new podcast series.
Obama delivered the tribute on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in a new episode of a podcast series titled “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,” produced by Higher Ground, the media company owned by Obama and his wife, Michelle. The series is dedicated to honoring figures who blended art and activism in musical history.
In a video shared on his Instagram page, Obama expressed his deep admiration for the late artist, whose career was defined by his outspoken criticism of Nigeria’s military dictatorship and corruption.
“I really love him,” Obama said in the video. “He is a musical genius from Nigeria. A unique figure in musical history who made music that I really love.”
Obama revealed that his admiration for Fela, who died in 1997, was personal. Fela Kuti is globally known for his creation of the revolutionary Afrobeat sound, which fuses traditional Nigerian music, jazz, funk, and psychedelic rock with potent political commentary.
