Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s 1973 track “Gentleman” features in the trailer for the upcoming Hollywood film “The Thomas Crown Affair”. Amazon MGM Studios unveiled the trailer on Thursday. The film stars Michael B. Jordan as Thomas Crown, a billionaire and art thief. It releases in cinemas worldwide on 5 March 2027. The track provides the musical backdrop for several scenes.
“Gentleman” was the title track of Fela’s 1973 album. It combines highlife rhythms, jazz-inspired horns and Afrobeat elements. The lyrics criticise colonial mentality and the imitation of Western lifestyles. More than five decades after its release, the song is introducing a new generation of international audiences to Fela’s music.
This mirrors the 2021 “Fela Kuti Box Set” and the 2024 “Zombie” vinyl reissue, which brought Fela’s catalogue to new listeners abroad. It also echoes the global rise of Afrobeats, where Nigerian sounds now soundtrack international films, advertisements and video games. The difference is that Fela’s music carries a political critique. Hollywood is using it as atmosphere.
The winners are the Fela estate, which earns royalties and gains exposure; Amazon MGM, which borrows cultural credibility; and Nigerian music, which gains another global placement. The losers are Nigerian artists who still struggle to place their work in international productions; local labels that lack the legal infrastructure to license catalogues; and audiences who may hear the rhythm without the message.
Winners: The Fela estate; Amazon MGM Studios; Nigerian music’s global profile.
Losers: Nigerian artists without international licensing deals; local labels lacking legal infrastructure; audiences missing the political message.
Bottom Line: Fela’s music is now a global brand. The estate should ensure the royalties reach the family, not just the film studio.