Orlando Julius vs Fela Kuti: The Untold Story of Afrobeat’s True Origins

Orlando Julius Aremu Olusanya (often called Orlando Julius) was a pioneering Nigerian saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, widely regarded as one of the early architects of what later became Afrobeat.

The Story Behind Afrobeat’s Birth

Orlando Julius was born in 1943 at Ikole-Ekiti, Nigeria and died 15th of April 2022.

Afrobeat is one of Africa’s greatest musical exports, but its origins are often simplified to one name.

While Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti remains the global face and revolutionary force behind Afrobeat, the foundation of the genre was laid years earlier by Orlando Julius Aremu Olusanya.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Orlando Julius was already experimenting with a powerful fusion of Yoruba traditional rhythms, highlife, jazz, and soul.

At a time when Afrobeat had not yet been named, Julius was shaping its raw musical elements through bands like The Modern Aces and later Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders.

It was during this formative period that Fela Kuti, born in 1938, encountered Orlando Julius’ sound and band structure.

Orlando Julius has often stated that he gave Fela early platforms to perform and develop as a band musician an experience that contributed to Fela’s artistic growth.

However, while Orlando Julius pioneered the sound, Fela Kuti transformed Afrobeat into a movement.

After the late 1960s, particularly following his exposure to Black consciousness in the United States, Fela redefined Afrobeat by adding political lyrics, extended compositions, militant themes, and Afrocentric ideology.
He led bands like The Modern Aces and later Orlando Julius & His Afro Sounders.

With bands like Africa ’70 and Egypt ’80, Fela turned Afrobeat into a global weapon of resistance and cultural pride.

Orlando Julius later moved to the United States, where he collaborated with international stars such as Hugh Masekela and Lamont Dozier.

His 1966 album Super Afro Soul is now regarded as a classic and a blueprint for early Afrobeat. Afrobeat was not born overnight, and it was not built by one man alone.

While Fela Anikulapo Kuti is rightly credited with popularizing and fully shaping Afrobeat, Orlando Julius is remembered as a key pioneer who helped form its musical foundation.