“My dad, Fela was a legend but not a good father” – Yeni Kuti
Afrobeats legend and media personality Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s daughter, Yeni Kuti, has claimed that her father was a bad father.
In an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Yeni Kuti made this claim but added that Fela was a hero and a role model.
She admitted that despite the constant conflict between Fela and his first son, Femi Kuti, she never spoke to Fela about not being a good father.
Also citing instances where Fela goofed, she said;
“He [Fela] was not quite a good father. No [I never told him that he isn’t a good father]. Maybe Femi, not me. Femi and Fela used to have battles. And Femi will give it to him straight.
Shola and I, we were like timid. You know, they said, ‘When two elephants are fighting, the grass will keep quiet.
I can remember one day, Fela just came and said, ‘three of you are useless children’. Femi just said, ‘for what?’ Femi just started facing him and then they started facing each other. Shola and I will say, ‘it’s okay’. Fela will say, ‘No’. And Femi just said, ‘let him go’.
I don’t think I have ever had that kind of confrontation with my father. Maybe because I am a woman.”