Femi Kuti: “Everything I put out, I have to be able to defend it with my life” – NME

A smiling man in a green and white patterned shirt holds a saxophone. A circular logo in the top right corner reads “Does Rock N Roll Kill Braincells?”—an iconic NME feature with Femi Kuti.

“’Water No Get Enemy’.”

CORRECT. Alongside D’Angelo, Macy Gray and the Soultronics featuring Nile Rodgers and Roy Hargrove.

“That was recoded on the night of the MTV Awards. D’Angelo and I were working together, and everyone heard, so they came from the awards to the studio and it was a big party. Name a hip-hop artist – they were there!”

When you were growing up, Fela and his band Africa 70 hosted all-night jam sessions at The Shrine, his Lagos nightclub, which was visited by the biggest stars including Paul…