Fela D+ed Poor, But He Was For the People — Singer Made Kuti Reflects on Grandfather’s Legacy and Struggles

Afrobeat singer and grandson of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Made Kuti, has shared deeply personal insights into the life, struggles, and enduring legacy of the music icon, revealing that Fela d+ed financially broke and largely uncelebrated until his children ensured he received a fitting people’s burial.

Speaking in a heartfelt interview, Made revealed that contrary to popular belief, Fela’s fame had waned by the mid-1990s. “By ’96, ’97, people weren’t speaking positively about him anymore. His popularity had faded in the media and in public opinion,” he said. He added that despite his legendary status, Fela d+ed with very little wealth and was largely abandoned by the society he fought for.

“He was br%ke. Fela d+ed poor. My dad had to use his own resources to support him. Fela was the kind of person that, even when he made a lot of money, would come back to Kalakuta, open a box of cash and say, ‘Anybody that needs, take.’ It was an open house policy,” Made explained.

He described the difficult upbringing of his father and aunt under Fela’s strict egalitarian principles. According to Made, Fela refused to let his children call him “dad” or receive any special treatment, insisting that everyone in Kalakuta was equal. “My dad had to earn everything on his own, even his place as first son. That was how Fela wanted it,” he noted.

Made believes that the tra¥ma of growing up in such an unconventional household still haunts his father and aunt, saying, “They need therapy. They watched Fela rise, fall, and d+e without ever being treated differently.”

The turning point in Fela’s posthumous reputation, Made said, came when his children decided to give him a public, people’s burial. “They took him to Tafawa Balewa Square and were told, ‘Nobody’s coming.’ Then millions showed up. They took his body through the streets back to Kalakuta. It was aired on the TV” he recounted.

Made said, It took his de@th for people to realize what he truly stood for.

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