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Seun Kuti dismisses notion of artistic success based on Fela Kuti’s legacy.
In an exclusive interview on Nollywood actress and entrepreneur Iyabo Ojo’s Goldroom show on Sunday, December 17, 2023, Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti firmly asserted that the success and recognition he, along with his older brother Femi Kuti and nephew Made Kuti, have achieved are not solely attributed to their lineage as the descendants of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.
During the interview, the Grammy-nominated saxophonist emphasized the importance of deliberate efforts and dedication in the music industry, debunking the notion that their familial connection to Fela Kuti played a significant role in their accomplishments.
Seun Kuti pointed to the achievements of his older brother, Femi Kuti, aged 60, and his nephew, Made Kuti, in his 20s, highlighting their dedication to the craft as the driving force behind their musical triumphs.
Drawing attention to his family’s musical heritage, Seun mentioned that Fela’s father, Reverend Israel Ransome-Kuti, was also a musician. Despite Reverend Ransome-Kuti’s contributions to music, Seun noted that he never received recognition for his son Fela’s success.
Further exploring his family’s rich musical lineage, Seun highlighted his grandfather as a musician who recorded albums and wrote numerous hymns. Additionally, he pointed out that his great-grandfather holds the distinction of being the first person in Nigeria to record a song.
Dismissing the idea that their success is solely tied to being Fela’s children, Seun Kuti challenged the perception, stating, “It is not because of our dad that we are successful in music. My brother, Femi Kuti, is 60. I am 40. My nephew, Made Kuti, is behind us now too, and he is in his 20s. And he is actually the best of all of us. That’s what it means; it continues to progress because we are really dedicated to it.”
“It’s not just because we are Fela’s children. I mean, nobody says Fela is a musician because his father was a musician. Nobody knows that Fela’s father was a musician. My grandfather was a musician. He recorded albums, and he wrote a lot of hymns. My great-grandfather was the first person in Nigeria to record a song. We came from a lineage of musicians,” he added.
He illustrated a point by mentioning a brother who grew up in Australia, unaware of his Kuti lineage until his 50s. While not a musician, this brother excelled as a creative art director, underscoring the family’s innate creativity.
He said, “We even have a brother that grew up in Australia that didn’t grow up with the family, he didn’t even know that he was a Kuti until his 50s, he’s not a musician but he is a creative art director. It’s what we are. We are creative people. So, when people say we are successful musicians because we are Fela’s children, they are just being half clever.”
"Made is the best of all of us"
– Seun Kuti pic.twitter.com/PRdxXjMKts
— 🐬 @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) December 17, 2023