Made Kuti, grandson of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has revealed that the music icon died poor despite earning large sums of money during his lifetime.
He made the statement during a recent appearance on the Tea With Tay podcast, hosted by Nigerian actor and media personality, Taymesan.
According to Made, Fela’s generosity was the main reason he had little to nothing left by the time he passed away in 1997. He described how his grandfather, although financially successful, never prioritised saving or accumulating wealth. Instead, he freely gave his money to those around him, often strangers.
“Fela was broke. He died poor,” Made said during the podcast. “He had the kind of money that could buy an entire street. But after a show, he would come back to Kalakuta and just open a box full of money. He would say, ‘If you need it, take it.’ Anyone from the street could walk into his house. He had an open-door policy. People came in and out whenever they wanted.”
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The young musician, who has continued his family’s Afrobeat legacy, emphasised that Fela’s lifestyle was built on the idea of community. According to him, Fela didn’t believe in materialism or in putting himself above others, not even his children.
“In Kalakuta, his children were not allowed to call him ‘dad’ or ‘father.’ He didn’t want us to feel special because we were his kids. Everyone was equal in his eyes,” Made added.
He noted that while Fela’s music and message were widely celebrated across the world, he was not fully appreciated in Nigeria during his lifetime. According to Made, international audiences often saw more value in Fela’s work than many of his fellow Nigerians did at the time.
“Fela was more appreciated abroad than at home while he was alive,” he said. “He stood for truth, justice, and the people. But sometimes those messages made him a target here in Nigeria.”
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, known for pioneering the Afrobeat genre, was more than just a musician. He was a bold political activist, known for speaking out against corruption, dictatorship, and social injustice. His lyrics, often laced with sharp criticism of Nigeria’s government and military regimes, earned him both admiration and trouble. Over the years, he was arrested more than 200 times and suffered various forms of state-sanctioned harassment.
Despite these struggles, Fela maintained a strong cult following. His music inspired millions, and his legacy has lived on through his children and grandchildren, including Made, who now performs alongside his father, Femi Kuti.
Fela’s communal lifestyle and anti-establishment views were most visibly expressed in his famous Kalakuta Republic, a commune, recording studio, and home located in Lagos. It was a space for free expression, music, and radical politics. However, it was also raided multiple times by government forces.
New Daily Prime recalls that Fela died on August 2, 1997, at the age of 58. His death was attributed to complications related to AIDS, though the announcement stirred controversy at the time.
Years after his death, Fela’s influence continues to shape the global music scene. His songs are sampled by artists worldwide, and festivals like Felabration are held annually in his honour. However, Made’s recent comments have shed new light on the man behind the legend, a man who, for all his fame, left behind little material wealth but a powerful legacy of resistance, rhythm, and generosity.
Made’s revelations offer a glimpse into the personal side of Fela’s life, one filled with passion, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in equality and humanity.
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