“Fela gave us a platform to flourish on” — 9ice

Veteran artiste, songwriter Alexander Abolore Adegbola Akande, widely known as 9ice, recently shared his perspective on the influence of late Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti in shaping the Nigerian music industry.

In an exclusive interview with ‘Sis Project Studios’, the 43-year-old musician highlighted Fela’s pioneering role in introducing the Afrobeat genre, which paved the way for many artistes to attain success.

9ice emphasized that during earlier times, artistes were exploring various genres in their quest to showcase their talents globally. However, Fela steadfastly championed the Afrobeat genre, which garnered worldwide recognition. He expressed gratitude for the platform Fela created, enabling contemporary artistes to rise to prominence.

“Fela Anikulapo-Kuti laid the foundation with Afrobeat for us to ascend to great heights. We were experimenting with Afropop and various other genres, but Baba [Fela] had already established something universally acclaimed.”

9ice went on to acknowledge the significant impact Afrobeat had on his musical journey, paying tribute to legendary figures like King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, whom he referred to as musical forefathers. He expressed his privilege in following their footsteps and continuing their legacy.

Watch video of 9ice express himself on Fela below:

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