Lekan Animashaun, popularly known as Baba Ani, is the legendary baritone saxophonist and bandleader who played a pivotal role in Fela Kuti’s illustrious career.
In a recent interview with The Podcast Network, Baba Ani reflected on his close bond with Fela and his years as a key member and musical director of several of Fela’s ensembles.
“I miss Fela a lot because he trusted and believed in me,” Baba Ani shared. “He treated me more like an elder brother than an employee. There isn’t a single one of Fela’s songs that I don’t love.”
When asked if Fela could read and score music, Baba Ani replied, “Oh yes, it’s true. In fact, it was rare to find someone in Fela’s band who could read music.”
Baba Ani also revealed that he never had the chance to speak with Fela before his passing. “No. Once he was taken to the hospital, that was the end.”
After Fela’s death in 1997, Baba Ani continued to shape the Afrobeat legacy by mentoring Fela’s son, Seun Kuti, for 19 years before retiring from the band in 2016.
Baba Ani’s tenure with Fela Kuti spanned a defining era in African music. As a member of Africa 70, the influential band formed in the late 1960s, he played a central role in the creation and evolution of Fela’s iconic Afrobeat sound.
