Afrobeat singer Made Kuti, grandson of the late music legend Fela Kuti, has addressed the backlash surrounding his marriage to Inedoye Onyenso.
The couple, who tied the knot in November 2023 through a civil ceremony in Lagos, have faced criticisms from some individuals who disapproved of their union, citing differences in ethnic backgrounds.
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Recently, an X user, @AdemolaOgudu, described Kuti as a “foolish Yoruba man” for marrying an Igbo woman.
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Responding to the comment on Friday, Kuti dismissed such notions as outdated and harmful. According to him, “believing ethnic superiority/inferiority is justifiable is slave mentality.”
He explained that the post didn’t anger him but rather evoked pity for the critic. “When I saw this post, it didn’t make me angry, I just felt pity for this person,” he wrote.
Kuti went on to reference the vision of Pan-Africanist leaders, including his great-grandmother Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, his grandfather Fela Kuti, Kwame Nkrumah, and Thomas Sankara, urging critics to educate themselves through their works.
He stated: “Every one of our great African leaders believed in the importance of African unity because they had faith in the potential of our people to rise intellectually above the structures and limits set by colonial regimes and miseducation. They hoped that we would preserve our culture and traditions and treat each other with love and respect, creating a continent that would support our children with love and joy. This way, they would grow up in a unified continent with collective management of resources, free travel without visa restrictions, shared culture, shared knowledge, and collective growth.
“Running backwards and believing ethnic superiority/inferiority is justifiable is slave mentality. It means you haven’t fully freed yourself from your nearly 500 years old chains. It means you’re still a victim.
“The healthiest way to free your mind is to read. Enlighten yourself with history and knowledge left by leaders like Nkrumah, Lumumba, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Fela Kuti and Sankara.
Free Your Mind ❤️”
He concluded by noting that he decided to make the statement public “for posterity” as he has continued to come across similar divisive posts “from both sides.”
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