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Fela always had white women in the house when I was growing up – Seun Kuti
Afrobeat musician and activist Seun Kuti has opened up about his unconventional childhood under the influence of his legendary father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
During a recent Instagram live session, Seun shared insights into the household he grew up in, revealing that Fela often had white women living alongside his many black female companions.
“My father had white women in his house. When I grew up, there were at least two white women living with us. He always had white ones with the black ones,” Seun recalled.
Despite the cultural diversity in their home, Seun emphasized that Fela never altered his identity to fit Western standards. Instead, the women around him embraced his lifestyle and adapted to it.
“Instead of Fela wearing a suit and tie so that the white women would see him as fine, they were the ones who started wearing shrine regalia and African hairstyles. Fela never changed because of them, but they changed because of him. He already knew who he was and his love for Africa,” Seun stated.
“Fela always had white women too with the black ones”
– Seun Kuti pic.twitter.com/TxcAff6lsR
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) February 25, 2025
Seun Kuti has always been vocal about his admiration for his father. In September 2024, while speaking on the ‘Zero Conditions’ podcast, he likened being Fela’s son to winning a lottery.
“I won the daddy lottery. My father is still my favorite person in the world. Even though I only spent 14 years with him, they were 14 awesome years. He was my best friend and everything; he was a cool dad to me.”
Reflecting on his privileged upbringing, Seun admitted he was spoilt as a child and never had to do chores like laundry.
“You don’t know how spoilt I was growing up. Up till now, I still haven’t done laundry in my life. I still don’t know how to wash anything. I’m not bragging o, but when I was going to school, I was sleeping in British Airways and snoring. In my dream, the thought crossed my mind, ‘How will you wash your clothes?’ That thought woke me up like someone slapped me. Then I remembered washing machine and slept back.”
Seun Kuti upholds his father’s legacy, championing Afrobeat and advocating for African consciousness and social justice.
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