Why we announced Fela died of AIDS — Yeni Kuti

Yeni Kuti, the daughter of the legendary afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has shed light on the decision made by her uncle, Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, to publicly announce that Fela died of Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Yeni Kuti disclosed that initially, the announcement was met with resistance from Fela’s children but was eventually accepted after numerous persuasions from family members.

During a recent conversation with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Yeni Kuti recounted the events surrounding her uncle’s decision and the subsequent acceptance by the family.

She revealed that initially, they were hesitant about the announcement as they still held hope for Fela’s recovery.

Fela

However, they eventually recognized the wisdom in Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti’s choice, as it put an end to speculations and permanently addressed inquiries regarding the cause of the iconic musician’s death.

Yeni recalled, “Then, I didn’t think the decision by his brother [Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti] to announce that he [Fela] died of AIDS was the best.” She continued, “I remember we [Fela’s children] had a big fight with my uncle at a time. They had already diagnosed Fela with AIDS at the hospital.”

At the time of the diagnosis, Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti was not present, but upon his arrival two days later, he informed Fela’s children of his intention to publicly disclose that Fela had AIDS.

Yeni and her siblings vehemently disagreed with their uncle’s proposed announcement, as they believed Fela still had a chance of survival.

They argued that it should be Fela’s prerogative to reveal his health condition if he managed to recover. Yeni explained, “We said, ‘No way… if Fela survives, let him [announce it].’ And he said, ‘Okay, you have a point.'”

Unfortunately, Fela’s health declined, leading to his untimely demise. Following Fela’s death, Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti insisted on making the announcement regarding Fela’s AIDS diagnosis, which sparked further disagreement within the family.

However, the family members eventually recognized the importance of honesty and the futility of hiding the truth. Yeni stated, “We quarreled with him. The whole family started talking to us, ‘it’s not good to lie, people are still going to discover.’ So, reluctantly, we agreed.”

Reflecting on the controversial decision in retrospect, Yeni Kuti acknowledged that her uncle’s announcement was, in fact, the best course of action.

She expressed her gratitude for the decision, as it prevented ongoing speculation about the cause of Fela’s death. Yeni concluded, “But I have to say it now, I think it was the best decision that my uncle made. If he had not announced it, till now they [journalists] will still be doing underground ‘what killed Fela?'”

The revelation by Yeni Kuti provides a deeper understanding of the family’s internal conflicts and the eventual acceptance of Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti’s decision to disclose Fela’s cause of death.

This candid account offers insights into the complex dynamics surrounding the late musician’s final moments and aims to put an end to lingering questions surrounding his passing.