Former US President Barack Obama celebrates Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti in new Higher Ground and Audible documentary podcast.

Former United States President Barack Obama has announced a new podcast honouring Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The 12-episode series, titled Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, is produced by Higher Ground, the media company owned by Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, in collaboration with Audible.

In a joint Instagram post shared on Wednesday by Obama, Higher Ground and Audible, the former president described Fela as “a musical genius from Nigeria who made art with activism.” Obama urged fans to listen to the podcast, which, according to him, “tells the story of a unique figure in musical history who combined funk, jazz and soul into a new genre called Afrobeat.”

The podcast, currently on its fourth episode, explores Fela Kuti’s life, music and political activism. It also features exclusive interviews with members of the Kuti family, including his children, Yeni and Femi Kuti as well as his grandson Made Kuti.

Higher Ground, which previously released The Wonder of Stevie, a podcast on Stevie Wonder, says Fela Kuti: Fear No Man aims to spotlight the artist’s revolutionary message and his influence on contemporary music worldwide.

Listeners can access the new series exclusively on Audible and other podcast platforms. (ARISE NEWS)