Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has opened up about the financial hardships his late father, Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, faced while raising his family.
Speaking in a recent interview with Afropolitan, posted on Instagram, Femi revealed that even as Fela’s first hit, Jeun Ko Ku, gained widespread acclaim, the family was living in severe poverty.
“Fela was very poor. He couldn’t even 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.
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He added that the overwhelming popularity of the song caught even Fela by surprise.
“Every music story was playing Fela’s first Afrobeats hit ‘Jeun Ko Ku.’ I think he too was surprised at the reception he got,” he said.
Femi’s reflections echo claims made by his son, Made Kuti, who noted that Fela, despite earning substantial sums during his lifetime, died broke due to his extreme generosity.
