-
My family has done enough for Nigeria; I will not fight—Made Kuti reveals he has no interest in activism
Nigerian singer and Afrobeat musician Made Kuti has revealed that, unlike the generations before him in the legendary Kuti family, he has no interest in pursuing activism, a stance that marks a significant shift from the legacy of vocal resistance associated with his lineage.
In a recent interview with Pulse Nigeria, the grandson of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and son of Femi Kuti expressed a deep sense of disillusionment about the cost of activism in Nigeria, saying his family has “done enough” and paid dearly for standing up to injustice.
“When you look at Nigeria, you see how many years Fela fought. My Dad fought; Uncle Seun is speaking out now. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti—she was thrown from a storey building. She gave everything, and they killed her for it,” he recounted.
Made spoke candidly about the emotional toll of witnessing decades of activism yield little visible change, questioning the value of sacrificing oneself in a system that seems resistant to transformation.
“Sometimes you just reflect and say, ‘Well, what’s the point of it if all these people couldn’t bring change? What’s the chance that my song or my performance can really bring change?’” he said.
View this post on Instagram
Although he distances himself from active protest, the For(e)ward singer clarified that he still believes in the power of collective action. He stressed that real change only happens when communities act in unity, rather than relying on individuals.
“I believe it’s not in the power of one person. It’s the collective—when the right people do the right thing at the right time, that’s when change can happen. But whether that’ll happen in my lifetime, I don’t know.”
Despite choosing not to walk the same activist path, Made made it clear that he still strives to “play his part,” even if his approach is different from his iconic predecessors.
“I want to be able to look my children in the eyes and say I did my best. But I’m careful about selflessness—giving everything and receiving nothing in return. I believe we’ve already given enough.”
For Made, the decision is rooted in preserving the well-being of his family and loved ones while still living with integrity. His comments reflect a more cautious and introspective view on what it means to fight for a better Nigeria.
“I’m happy to be on the right side of history—but not at the cost of the people I love.”