Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician, Femi Kuti, has mentioned that although his late father, Fela Kuti was famous, they still lived in poverty.
In an interview on the Afropolitan podcast, Femi explained that even when Fela’s first hit song, ‘Jeun Ko Ku’, was topping the charts and gaining attention, the family’s reality was very different.
‘Brave, inspiring, crazy’ – The joy of managing Fela Kuti
According to him, behind the popularity of the song, they were still living in difficult conditions at No 14A Agege Motor Road, before Fela established the famous Kalakuta Republic.
“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. Every music story was playing Fela’s first Afrobeats hit ‘Jeun Ko Ku.’ I think he too was surprised at the reception he got,” Femi said.
Femi’s revelation aligns with what his son, Omorinmade “Made” Kuti, has also shared about the legendary musician’s financial state.
I almost got mad when I smoked weed with Fela Kuti – Pat Thomas
In an interview on the ‘Tea With Tay’ podcast, posted on YouTube on August 2, 2025, Made Kuti also disclosed that his grandfather died in poverty.
“He (Fela Kuti) was broke. Fela died poor. Fela was the kind of person who, when he made a bunch of cash, had the kind of money that could have bought the whole street. But he would return from a show, Kalakuta, open a box of money and say, anybody who needs to take,” Made explained.
Also catch the latest episode of Talkertainment with Ghana’s most-sought-after MC/Hypeman, Kojo Manuel, below:
AK/EB
