Grammy-nominated singer Seun Kuti recently shared his experiences of facing stigma while growing up as the son of the late Afrobeats legend, Fela Anikulapo kuti.
Speaking with Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, Kuti revealed that his paternity had a significant impact on his life, even affecting his relationships. He recalled instances where he couldn’t visit his girlfriend’s father’s house due to the stigma associated with being Fela’s son.
Expressing his frustration, Kuti emphasized that the stigmatization was unfair, considering that his father had done nothing to warrant such treatment.
Kuti shared, “Growing up, I was stigmatised for being Fela’s son. I couldn’t even enter my girlfriend’s father’s house. Even on the street, people would always point at me and say, ‘See Fela pikin.’ It was annoying because my father didn’t do anything.”
He also raised concerns about the society’s tolerance for individuals with questionable characters while stigmatizing him for his family background.
Seun Kuti, noted for his activism and who at many times have tried to revived a political movement of his father, the Movement of the People, as part of his drive to call for better governance in the country, as well as an end to police brutality, most notably during the #Endsars period.
Kuti urged for self-reflection, stating, “Now, these killers, murderers, corrupt thieves that their actions are killing millions of Nigerians every day, you are willing to be in a party with them and hail them. We need to check ourselves.”
The Guardian
