‘My Daily Pocket-Money as Pupil Was Bigger Than My Teacher’s Salary’ – Seun Kuti
Grammy-nominated artist Seun Kuti recently shared insights into his upbringing and family legacy, revealing how his late father, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, prioritized philanthropy over personal inheritance.
In a video message posted on his Instagram account, Kuti reminisced about his childhood, highlighting the profound impact of Fela’s charitable nature. Despite Fela’s prominence as a top musician in Nigeria, the Kuti household accommodated around 500 individuals, with Fela extending support to approximately 1000 people in his Kalakuta commune.
Kuti explained, “When Fela was the top musician in Nigeria, we were living with about 500 people in our house. All the money I was meant to inherit, Fela used it to cater for people.” He further detailed how Fela provided daily allowances and weekly salaries to residents of Kalakuta and the African shrine, encompassing individuals from various professions and walks of life.
Reflecting on the financial disparity between his family’s lifestyle and that of his teachers, Kuti revealed, “My pocket money in 1990, throughout my primary school, was N100 per day. My pocket money a day was bigger than my teacher’s salary.”
Despite the absence of a traditional inheritance, Kuti emphasized the significance of Fela’s altruism and communal ethos, illustrating how his father’s legacy transcended material wealth to encompass a broader commitment to social welfare and support for marginalized individuals.
Through his recollections, Kuti offers a glimpse into the values instilled by his father and the enduring impact of Fela’s philanthropic endeavours, underscoring the profound influence of Afrobeat beyond the realm of music.
