Seun Kuti: Preserving Africa's Cultural Heritage Through Music

As a lifestyle brand inspired by African pop culture and black heritage, CoolAfricanMerch understands the importance of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the continent. One musician who embodies this spirit is Seun Kuti, the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.

Seun has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father's political and musical legacy as the leader of his father's former band Egypt 80. From a young age, he showed interest in his father's music and began opening his shows and singing a select group of songs with Egypt 80 at just nine years old.

As a developing saxophonist and percussionist, Seun entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12. After his father passed in 1997, Seun fulfilled his father's wishes and assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80, and has run it ever since.

During his teens, Seun divided his time between the band and school, participating in African Football. From the time he was 18, he pursued music full-time. His shows were always a mix of his father's tunes and his own, and he began to add his own twist to the music, digging deep into various African traditions to reflect the continent's struggles and cultures.

Seun has toured globally and played for enthusiastically receptive audiences all around the world, from Detroit to London, and from New York to Tokyo. His music is heavily influenced by the overtly political messages of his father, and he continues to state that "Fela will always be number one," despite the fact that he is shifting and transforming Afrobeat with his own growing and evolving musical signature.

At CoolAfricanMerch, we believe that Seun Kuti is an excellent example of an artist who uses his platform to tell the story of Africa and its struggles through music. That's why we are proud to offer sustainable garments adorned with quirky designs that pay homage to Africa's rich cultural heritage.

Find out about his latest music and tour date via his website  www.seunkuti.net