Femi Kuti – Journey Through Life (Partisan Records, 2025)
On his 2025 album Journey Through Life, Nigerian Afrobeat stalwart Femi Kuti turns inward, pairing his signature political critiques with rare glimpses into his personal evolution. The LP marks a shift toward self-reflection, even as it maintains the social consciousness that has long defined his work.
Femi began his career in Egypt ’80, the legendary band led by his father, Fela Kuti, before founding his own group, Positive Force, in 1986. Since then, he has forged a modern Afrobeat style. Even though you’ll still find irresistible rhythms, call and response vocals, and powerful brass, his Afrobeat is inflected with contemporary jazz, funk, highlife, and R&B. Yet while his sound has evolved, his message has remained consistent: a pointed condemnation of political corruption, social injustice, and inequality. Beyond music, his activism includes work with Global Citizen and his role as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.
However, Journey Through Life introduces a more introspective tone. “I wanted to talk more about me,” Femi explains, “about the goals and values that have guided me all these years.” This personal dimension is especially clear in the title track, where his soaring saxophone and affirming lyrics urge listeners to “make the best of your journey through life.”
Though more contemplative in scope, the album doesn’t retreat from political critique. On “Politics Don Expose Them,” Femi revisits themes from his 1998 hit “Sorry Sorry,” itself a descendant of Fela’s “Zombie.” The song calls out Nigerian politicians for decades of broken promises, stating, “Politics has exposed the true character of our politicians.” Set against infectious horn riffs and squelchy synths, the track exemplifies his enduring method: sharp commentary wrapped in irresistible grooves.
Similarly, “After 24 Years,” a live favorite now recorded in the studio for the first time, delivers a damning indictment of Nigeria’s political landscape: “These politicians failed the nation.” Buoyant instrumentation contrasts with the chorus’s blunt refrain, a hallmark of Femi’s bittersweet approach.
The album also sees him revisiting and reworking older material. Tracks like “Last Mugu,” “Oga Doctor,” and “Think My People Think,” dating back to the early 1990s, are updated to reflect his current worldview. “Corruption Na Stealing,” originally released in 2018, now features a bolder arrangement that better matches the song’s urgency. Likewise, “Shotan” receives a rock-tinged studio makeover after years as a live staple.
For the first time, Femi also oversaw every aspect of production. “I am at a stage where I want to emphasize my creativity,” he says, “expressing how I truly feel from deep within.” This desire for greater artistic control is especially evident on “Work on Myself,” where he grapples with helplessness amid global turmoil and affirms personal growth as a means of resilience: “My way is to keep working on myself… to always become a better person and better musician.”
The album was shaped, in part, by a difficult period in his personal life, his daughter’s serious health issues, and follows the collaborative 2021 project Legacy+, recorded with his son, Made Kuti. “Making music with my son reshaped the way I approach everything,” Femi reflects. “Each album feeds into the next.”
At 62, Femi Kuti is at a creative inflection point. Journey Through Life expands his legacy beyond protest, offering a holistic view of the man behind the music. Though his mission remains unchanged, this album adds new layers, personal, spiritual, and introspective, revealing an artist in constant evolution.
Buy Journey Through Life.
Author: Tyler Bennet
