Grammy-nominated Afrobeat star, Femi Kuti, has revealed that his late father, music legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, couldn’t afford food despite first hit song.
Femi, in a recent interview with Afropolitan, recounted how the family struggled financially at the time Fela’s first hit song, “Jeun Ko Ku,” was topping charts across Nigeria.
“Fela was very poor, couldn’t afford food for us his kids. I mean, really really poor. Then we were living at No. 14A Agege Motor Road, this was all before Kalakuta,” Femi said.
He added that even Fela himself was surprised at the overwhelming reception of the record, which became the foundation of his Afrobeat revolution.
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The revelation echoes earlier comments by Femi’s son, Made Kuti, who stated that his grandfather died poor despite earning significant wealth during his lifetime. Made explained that Fela’s excessive generosity and lifestyle contributed to his financial decline.
Fela Kuti, regarded globally as the pioneer of Afrobeat, left behind a lasting legacy of music, activism, and cultural influence despite his personal struggles.