Popular singer, Alexander Adegbola Akande, better known as 9ice, has stated the late afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti gave Nigerian musicians the platform to expose their abilities to the world.
This was said by the singer of “Gongo Aso” in a recent interview with Sis Project Studios.
“Fela Anikulapo-Kuti gave us the platform—Afrobeat—so that we could climb to the top,” 9ice stated. We attempted to perform Afropop. We were attempting afrobeats. We were attempting to come up with new names. But Baba [Fela] already possesses a well-known item.
“Afrobeat taught me a lot. King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti are our grandfathers. And I’m glad to be in existence to emulate or to follow what they’ve done.”