Seun Kuti, the celebrated musician nominated for a Grammy, candidly shared his enduring struggle against stigmatization due to being the son of the legendary Afrobeat icon, Fela Kuti.
In a recent conversation with actress Iyabo Ojo, Kuti revealed the impact his lineage had on his life, emphasizing that it even affected his romantic relationships, preventing him from visiting his girlfriend’s father’s home.
“Growing up, I faced stigma just for being Fela’s son. I couldn’t even visit my girlfriend’s father. People on the streets would always point and say, ‘There goes Fela’s child.’ It was frustrating because my father didn’t deserve it,” Kuti expressed.
Expressing dismay, Kuti compared the treatment he received to society’s tolerance of individuals responsible for immense harm: “Now, those responsible for deaths, corruption, and ongoing suffering in Nigeria are embraced and celebrated. We need to reassess ourselves.”
During the conversation, Kuti also revealed that he joined his late father’s band, Egypt 80, astonishingly at the tender age of 8, initiating his extraordinary journey in the world of music.
