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Why Fela married 27 women in one day – Seun Kuti
Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti recently shed light on the controversial decision made by his late father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, to marry 27 women in a single day. This event, which took place in 1978, has been a subject of intrigue and speculation over the years.
During an appearance on the ‘Fresh Off The Boat’ podcast via Skype, Seun Kuti explained that his father’s decision was driven by a desire to protect the honour and dignity of his female dancers and band members.
At the time, the media had begun to label these women, who lived and worked closely with Fela, as “prostitutes.” To counter these damaging labels and preserve their respectability, Fela chose to marry them, ensuring they were seen in a different light by society.
This move was characteristic of Fela’s often radical and unconventional approach to societal norms and his relentless push against the stigmatization and marginalization of those close to him. Seun Kuti’s revelation provides a deeper understanding of the motivations behind one of the most talked-about moments in the history of Afrobeats and the life of its iconic pioneer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
He said: “My father was under immense media propaganda. He was very scrutinised. And most of it were directed to the women that were in his life; his female back-up singers, dancers. They all lived together with my dad but the media started calling them prostitutes.
“So my dad, in order to preserve their honour and dignity, asked them if they would choose to be his brides so nobody would call them names anymore and they all agreed. That was how the marriage happened.”
Why Fela married 26 women in one day
– Seun Anikulapo-Kuti pic.twitter.com/IKM3s5qD7C
— 🐬 @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) May 17, 2024