Fela Kuti estate signs to WME Legends, biopic, more in the works

WME Legends, a division of the global talent agency WME, has signed the estate of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti for management worldwide.

The signing comes as Afrobeats, the genre that Kuti helped to create, has been steadily crossing into the mainstream over the last few years. Kuti, who died in 1997, was a Nigerian-born musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He fused funk, jazz, fuji, and highlife music to create Afrobeat, a percussion-heavy genre that has profoundly influenced music worldwide.

The WME Legends team will manage Kuti’s name, image, likeness, life, IP, music, and publishing rights across WME and parent company Endeavor’s departments and companies worldwide.

The team is focused on growing Kuti’s legacy for a new generation with various projects, including a definitive scripted biopic, an expansion of the Fela! Stage musical franchise; previously unreleased masters and unpublished songs; licensing and merchandising; commercials and endorsements; and more.

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“WME Legends is honoured to be representing the estate of Fela Kuti,” said Leslie Schilling, co-head of WME Legends. “Fela was a visionary artist and activist whose music inspires and resonates with people worldwide. We are committed to working with the Kuti estate to preserve and celebrate his legacy and to introduce his music and message to a new generation.”

The Kuti biopic would be the first to be sanctioned by the Kuti estate. Notably, 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen was previously developing a Kuti biopic for Focus Features to star Chiwetel Ejiofor, though the estate had no involvement in that project.

WME Legends also represents the estates of The Notorious B.I.G., Andy Kaufman, Eartha Kitt, Waylon Jennings, Peter Tosh, and Charlie Sifford, as well as Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation and the iconic New York punk/new wave club, CBGB.

During the negotiation, the Kuti estate was represented by Olajide Oyewole, a member of DLA Piper Africa.