90-Year-Old Baba Ani Reveals Why He Still Misses Fela Kuti

At 90, veteran musician and former manager of Fela Kuti’s band, Baba Ani, has opened up about his enduring bond with the late Afrobeat pioneer.

He revealed why he still misses the legendary musician nearly three decades after his death.

Baba Ani shared the memories during a recent interview with the Podcast Network, reflecting on the 32 years he spent working alongside Fela across the Africa 70 and Egypt 80 eras.

Asked which figure from that era he missed the most, Baba Ani immediately named Fela, describing a relationship that extended far beyond music and professional responsibilities.

According to the veteran musician, Fela trusted him deeply and treated him as an older brother rather than simply a member of his workforce.

“I miss Fela a lot because he trusted me, he believed in me, he took me in as a senior brother, not as an employee,” Baba Ani recalled.

His decades with Fela placed him at the centre of one of the most influential periods in African music. The Africa 70 ensemble helped establish Fela’s distinctive Afrobeat sound, while Egypt 80, which emerged later, continued his musical and political legacy.

Baba Ani also worked alongside some of the musicians who helped shape Fela’s sound, including legendary drummer Tony Allen, who is widely recognised as a key architect of Afrobeat.

Reflecting on his final memories of Fela, Baba Ani recalled that the last time he saw the music icon was when Fela was taken to hospital during his final days. There was no dramatic falling-out between them; instead, their long association simply came to an end with Fela’s death in 1997.

Even after decades, Baba Ani said he finds it difficult to select a single favourite Fela song because of the depth of the musician’s catalogue.

“In all Fela’s songs, I don’t see which one I don’t like,” he said.

Fela died on August 2, 1997, at the age of 58. His death marked the end of a career that had transformed Nigerian music while using Afrobeat as a vehicle for social and political commentary.

Nearly 30 years later, Baba Ani’s recollections offer a personal window into the man behind the music, portraying Fela not only as an internationally celebrated Afrobeat pioneer but also as a trusted friend and brother to those who worked closely with him.

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