Growing Up As Fela’s Son: My Experiences — Femi Kuti
The eldest son of renowned Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Femi Kuti has relived recollections of how he was despised as a child because he was Fela’s son.
While appearing in this week’s episode of #WithChude, Femi revealed this revelation. He also discussed being a single parent, the death of his parents, and how it affected his life.
Femi recalled his upbringing as Fela’s son and what he went through.
I was disliked by others because I was Fela’s son. Because some teachers liked my father and many others didn’t, my time at school was a very dismal period for me. As a result, if I got into problems with a teacher who disliked my father, that instructor would brutally beat me. Then there were the wealthy students at the same school who despised me for being Fela’s kid. I therefore spent the most of my time in school fighting,” Femi recounted.
His father beating him constantly as a child, according to him, was another unpleasant experience he had growing up.
Femi also talked about how he handled his emotions after losing close ones, particularly his mother.
“I’ve also been through death. The toughest period was probably when my mother passed away because she was like my pillar and when she died, I was lost. I still had the want to go see her and wish her a good morning until about three or four years ago, so hold on! Fela had just left, as well as my sister and cousin.
Some people made the prediction that 12 of us would pass away, and I wondered if they would be accurate. We then experienced family issues, my wife left, and people began to claim that Femi was losing her mind. But I’m glad I got through it because I believe it helped me become a better person.
Regarding his bond with his son, the Afrobeat musician said
“When I was raising my son, he was everything to me. He was my joy after my mother passed away and my wife departed. I had to cling to him because Fela was no longer there.
He also brought back so many memories of when I was younger and everyone thought it was wonderful that we were Fela’s kids. In light of what I just mentioned, what in my life do I think Fela did wrong? Where I believe he erred, I will explain it to my son, and where I believe he was right, I will underline it and teach him that I am still not a great father in those areas.
