Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has celebrated his elder brother and fellow musician Femi Kuti as he marked his 63rd birthday on Monday.
Taking to Instagram on the day of the celebration, Seun shared photos of himself and Femi performing on stage and praised him for his consistency and talent.
He wrote: “Happy birthday to the King of Afrobeat Music. The best brother one can possibly ask for. You continue to shine in many ways and the longevity of your career is clear evidence of the immense talent and passion you possess. We love you, I love you Oba!!! Drop one gunshot for the king 🔫 GBOSA!!! @femiakuti.”
Femi’s son Made Kuti also honoured his father on Instagram with a heartfelt message, sharing throwback photos of the seven-time Grammy nominee.
“Happy 63rd Birthday to THE EMPEROR! @femiakuti, you’re the most incredible man I know! With 47+ years in the industry and still counting, you play every week at the Shrine at a ridiculously affordable price, giving every single person the opportunity to see a world-class performance in their hometown! 3 hours on stage, non-stop – just incredible!” he wrote.
Femi is the first child of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and his first wife Remilekun Taylor. He began his music career as a teenager in his father’s Egypt 80 band before forming his own group Positive Force in 1986. He is known for his energetic live performances and politically conscious music, continuing his father’s legacy through his own style.
His younger brother Seun, who now leads Egypt 80, was only 14 when Fela died in 1997. Seun has also continued to promote Afrobeat while using his platform to speak on political issues.
Their father, Fela, was a legendary Nigerian musician and activist who pioneered the Afrobeat genre. He had several children from different women, including Yeni, Femi, Sola, Seun, Kunle and Motunrayo.
