Seun Kuti Reveals Stress of Managing Numerous Wives and Concubines Nearly Killed Fela
Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has disclosed that his legendary father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, was overwhelmed by the stress of managing his numerous wives and concubines, which he claims nearly led to his demise.
In a recent episode of the ‘Bahd & Boujee’ podcast, Seun Kuti shed light on the extent of his father’s relationships, noting that beyond the well-known 27 wives Fela married simultaneously, there were many more women involved.
“People only know of Fela’s 27 wives, they don’t know of his over 100 girlfriends that lived with us in the house,” Seun revealed. “The wives and girlfriends almost killed Fela with stress.”
Fela, a pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, created a communal lifestyle at his Kalakuta Republic, where he lived with his family and numerous partners. Seun emphasized that the burden of handling such a large number of relationships took a significant toll on Fela’s health.
Fela Kuti passed away on August 2, 1997, at the age of 58 due to complications related to AIDS. Seun’s candid remarks offer a deeper understanding of the personal challenges faced by the Afrobeat icon amidst his groundbreaking musical career.
