Made Kuti, the grandson of legendary musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has shared insights into how his grandfather was perceived during his lifetime, particularly in Nigeria.
In an interview with Taymesan, Made said that despite Fela’s significant cultural impact, he was more appreciated internationally than locally while he was alive.
He said his father, Femi, faced challenges due to the family name, as Nigerians once viewed the Kuti family with skepticism and disapproval.
According to him, Femi struggled with relationships because of the family’s reputation, and people looked down on him due to Fela’s perceived lack of financial success.
He stated that the propaganda portrayed Fela as a negative figure, particularly among the Nigerian middle class and the image stuck for a long time and affected how people viewed the Kuti family.
He also disagreed that his father’s success is tied to Fela’s name, stating that Femi’s success is actually in spite of the challenges posed by Fela’s legacy.
He said, “If you look further back during Fela’s lifetime, he was appreciated more internationally than he was locally.
“I remember my dad telling us about how he couldn’t even date girls because the fact that he was a Kuti was a major red flag. They looked down on him because at the time, Fela was not seen as someone who was financially successful.
“They managed to sell a strong narrative to the middle class. The propaganda worked for such a long time,” Made explained.
