Femi Kuti, renowned Nigerian musician and eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has opened up about the reason he departed from his father’s band.
He shared the revelation during a recent appearance on the Afropolitan podcast.
Reflecting on his decision, Femi Kuti explained that he left in order to find his own identity, stating, “I didn’t see any possibility for my own life while in the band.”
“Growing up in school, everybody would be like ‘aren’t you going to be like your dad or won’t you play music? I was pressured to be like my father.
“If I wanted to play music, I had to be Femi Kuti. I used the same mathematical thought that I cannot be Fela. I began to wear the same outfits with my father because I used to stay with my mother before I ran away to stay with him.
“I was like mini Fela because he usually dresses me like himself. I just thought I should better look for myself fast, or I’m going to be a very unhappy man. So I went back to my mother.
“The moment I formed my band, his fan base descended on me. It was very difficult to find a good write up about me then because the press hated me and at this time, there was no internet for me to defend myself.
“Being under my father, I didn’t have any possibility of my own life, including having children. I saw my life in his life,” the 63-year-old stated.
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
READ THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
