Samklef Claims Orlando Julius Founded Afrobeat, Not Fela Kuti
Samklef has caused fresh drama by challenging one of Nigeria’s biggest music beliefs, claiming Fela Anikulapo Kuti did not create Afrobeat.
The Nigerian producer, whose real name is Samuel Oguachuba, says the genre’s real origin traces back to veteran musician Orlando Julius Ekemode.
He made the claim during the ongoing Wizkid and Kuti family tension, adding a new twist to an already heated conversation.
Samklef took the argument to X, where he shared Orlando Julius’ photo and accused Fela of stealing Orlando’s style.
Orlando Julius, Nigeria’s Afrobeat pioneer, original founder! Fela Kuti stole his style and never acknowledged him. pic.twitter.com/DrjjcnYR2C
— SAMKLEF (@SAMKLEF) January 20, 2026
He also claimed Orlando helped Fela develop musically and taught him how to play the saxophone.
He blamed Nigeria’s weak documentation for what he described as a long history of wrong credit.
Facts! Fela stole Orlando Julius Ekemode style the original afrobeat founder he also thought fela how to play sax! O
The problem with Nigeria generally we lack proper documentation. I go start to Dey teach una history. https://t.co/PCdfZ8SxQz— SAMKLEF (@SAMKLEF) January 21, 2026
Whether people agree or not, the claim has pushed Orlando Julius back into the headlines and put Afrobeat history under fresh scrutiny.
Also read: Fela Kuti’s Daughter Blasts Wizkid Over “I’m Bigger Than Fela” Comment
