Tekno Sparks Debate: “Fela Is Not the Sole Originator of Afrobeats, Oliver De Coque Contributed”

By ECOWAS Reporter | August 28, 2026

Nigerian singer Tekno has sparked a fresh debate about the origins of Afrobeats after challenging the widely held belief that late music legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was the sole originator of the sound.

During a recent interview on Hot 97 FM in New York, Tekno acknowledged Fela's enormous influence but argued that other Nigerian musicians, particularly highlife legends from the eastern part of the country, deserve greater recognition.

Tekno: Fela Shouldn't Get All the Credit

Tekno directly questioned the popular narrative surrounding Fela's contribution to African music.

“Fela is not the originator of Afrobeats,”

he said, adding that people in Lagos and among the Yoruba community may give Fela most of the credit, but his own upbringing in eastern Nigeria exposed him to a wider musical tradition.

According to the singer, several musicians contributed to the development of the sounds that eventually became associated with contemporary Afrobeats.

Oliver De Coque Gets Special Mention

One musician Tekno specifically highlighted was legendary Nigerian highlife musician Oliver De Coque.

Tekno said his father's love for De Coque's music influenced him while growing up and that he personally drew significant inspiration from the eastern Nigerian music legend.

He argued that highlife was an important part of the broader musical heritage that influenced the development of African popular music.

“I would say I was more inspired by Oliver De Coque and his peers from the East.”

Tekno also suggested that many older musicians remain under-recognised despite producing music that continues to influence newer generations.

Tekno Still Acknowledges Fela's Influence

Despite challenging Fela's position as the sole originator, Tekno did not dismiss the legendary musician's contribution.

The singer acknowledged that Fela played a major role in taking Afrobeat to international audiences through his extensive touring and performances with his band.

Tekno also revealed that his own hit song “Rara” was heavily inspired by Fela's music.

This distinction is important because Tekno's argument is not that Fela had no role in the genre's development, but that the story of African popular music should not be reduced to one musician.

Afrobeat and Afrobeats: An Important Distinction

The debate has also highlighted the difference between Afrobeat, the politically charged musical style pioneered by Fela Kuti, and Afrobeats, the broader contemporary African pop movement that emerged decades later.

Fela's Afrobeat combined elements of highlife, jazz, funk, traditional African rhythms and political commentary.

Contemporary Afrobeats, meanwhile, incorporates influences from numerous African and global genres and has developed into a diverse international pop sound.

Because of this evolution, discussions about who “created” Afrobeats can become complicated.

Social Media Reacts

Tekno's comments have generated strong reactions online.

Some music fans argue that Fela deserves his status as the pioneer of Afrobeat but agree that other African musicians should receive greater recognition for their contributions.

Others have criticised Tekno's suggestion that highlife and Afrobeat should be treated as the same thing, arguing that while highlife influenced Afrobeat, the two genres have distinct histories and characteristics.

The discussion has therefore expanded beyond Tekno and Fela to a broader question about how Nigerian music history is documented and remembered.

A Bigger Conversation About Nigeria's Musical Heritage

Tekno's comments have opened an important conversation about musicians whose contributions may have been overshadowed by internationally recognised figures.

Artists such as Oliver De Coque and numerous other highlife musicians played important roles in Nigeria's rich musical history.

While Fela's global influence is undeniable, Nigeria's musical development involved multiple traditions, regions and generations of artists.

Final Thoughts

Tekno's remarks are likely to remain controversial, but they have succeeded in reigniting an important conversation about the origins and evolution of African music.

Fela Kuti remains one of the most influential figures in African music history, but Tekno believes the story should also recognise the many musicians and musical traditions that came before and alongside him.

Whether fans agree with Tekno's interpretation or not, one thing is clear: Nigeria's musical history is far more diverse than the story of a single artist.