It was depressing being Fela Kuti’s son — Femi Kuti

Renowned Nigerian musician Femi Kuti, who has earned Grammy nominations for his exceptional talent, recently shared his deeply personal experiences of attending school as the son of the late Afrobeats legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Femi Kuti revealed that his school years were marked by feelings of depression, largely due to the treatment he received from both teachers and fellow students, who sought to bully and shame him based on his father’s legacy. However, he stood his ground and refused to be intimidated.

In a candid interview with popular media personality Chude Jideonwo, Femi Kuti shed light on the challenging environment he faced during his school days.

He recounted encounters with teachers who held contrasting opinions about his father, Fela. While some teachers admired Fela, others held grudges against him. Femi found himself at the receiving end of unfair treatment from teachers who disliked his father, enduring physical punishment for no reason other than being Fela’s son.

It was during this time that Femi began to comprehend the deep-seated animosity directed towards his father.

He expressed, “School was a very depressing time for me because you had teachers that liked him [my dad, Fela], and teachers that didn’t like him. So, if I got into trouble with a teacher that didn’t like him, that teacher would just beat me because he didn’t like my father. I later came to the realization that they had a vendetta against my father.”

Femi Kuti’s struggles extended beyond the school faculty, as his peers also targeted him due to his lineage. The presence of privileged children, whose parents belonged to the elite class, further fueled their negative attitudes towards him.

Femi recalled instances where he was subjected to verbal abuse, being taunted with statements such as, “your father smokes igbo [Indian hemp], your father is a pant.”

However, he refused to cower in the face of such adversity and responded with his own sharp retorts, often leaving his detractors stunned. He confidently stated, “My mouth was like a razor blade. If you abuse my father, by the time I abuse you, you will cry.”

Femi Kuti’s candid revelations shed light on the emotional toll he experienced during his formative years. His resilience and determination to confront those who attempted to belittle his father’s legacy demonstrate the strength of character that has become synonymous with the Kuti family name.

The musician’s frank discussion about his struggles serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, whose influence on Nigerian music and society continues to resonate.

Femi’s unwavering spirit and refusal to be silenced by prejudice embody the same defiance that has characterized the Kuti family’s commitment to justice, freedom, and artistic expression.