Yeni Kuti Reveals Sh*cking Reason Her Mother Stayed Celibate For 20 Years After Divorcing Fela

Nigerian dancer and singer, Yeni Kuti, has shared intimate details about the private life of her late mother, Remilekun Anikulapo-Kuti, who was once married to Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti.

Speaking during a live programme on TVC, Yeni revealed that after her separation from Fela in 1981, her mother chose not to remarry or pursue any other relationship.

According to her, Remilekun lived in celibacy for over two decades—until her death in 2002—driven by her unwavering love and loyalty to Fela, despite no longer living with him.

Yeni explained that her mother battled health challenges, including cancer, during that period but still held firmly to her devotion.

In her words:
“We have to break it down into parts. First, sex is very important in marriage. Second, celibacy is a matter of choice. My mummy left my father’s house in 1981 and died in 2002. From that time until her death, she never met another man. She was celibate throughout that period. I knew, but I could never understand.

“She even got cancer in between, and during a medical check-up, when the doctor asked why she wasn’t sexually active and said her body was closing up, she replied, ‘Fela is the only man for me.’”