Haitian rapper, Wyclef Jean’s new single is named after Nigerian afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti.
Jean explained that he picked the name as title, because he wants young ones to know about the legendary progenitor of Afrobeat.
The new song ‘Fela Kuti’ is the first single off his forthcoming album.
“I decided to name it Fela Kuti because for me, I feel like we be thinking of [Bob] Marley, we give a lot of people from our past props, so when the kids hear Fela Kuti, I really want them to Google it,” he told XXL.
“Fela Kuti studied jazz in England. Wyclef studied jazz at Vailsburg High School. Fela Kuti then went back to his country and tried to help his country by running for president. Wyclef, you know, did the same thing.
“Then, Fela, through all his obstacles and all that, his music is what pillared him right back to the top. He understood the strongest way to help politically was to make sure the music was bangin.
“So for me, the same way kids can have songs called “Wyclef Jean” who are influenced by me, I want kids to know who Fela is and what he means.”