Tamuno Wokoma
Afrobeat star Seun Kuti recently ignited debate by asserting that his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was one of the earliest pioneers of rap music.
During a candid conversation on the Hits Don’t Lie podcast, Kuti pointed to Fela’s 1980 album ‘Authority Stealing,’ where he claims the iconic musician incorporated rap-like delivery years before the genre gained global recognition.
“Fela actually rapped before rap had a name. Listen to ‘Authority Stealing’—his flow was ahead of its time. Nobody labeled it ‘rap’ back then, but that’s exactly what it was,” Kuti explained.
“Fela was the first person to rap. When he did it, we didn’t know it was going to be called ‘Rap.'”
– Seun Kuti pic.twitter.com/088i6MnsDr
— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) January 17, 2026
However, hip-hop historians often credit DJ Kool Herc’s breakbeat innovations in 1973 as the genesis of rap, predating Fela’s album. Meanwhile, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash further solidified the genre’s foundations in the Bronx during the late 1970s.
While Fela’s legacy as the creator of Afrobeat remains unchallenged—a fusion of funk, jazz, and African rhythms—the claim of him pioneering rap continues to spark discussions among music scholars and fans alike.
