Seun Kuti Reflects On Fela’s Influence During His Childhood

Afrobeats artist Seun Kuti has shared that his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was an exceptionally loving parent to him. Speaking on the Zero Conditions podcast, Kuti revealed that he was particularly pampered during his childhood.

He recounted how Fela showed him preferential treatment compared to his siblings, emphasizing that while his brothers might describe their father differently, he himself considers Fela to have been an extraordinary father.

Seun boasted about the extent of his pampering, noting that he has never done laundry in his life. “I won the daddy lottery. Fela Kuti is my favorite person in the world. My brothers might say he was a terrible dad, but to me, he was amazing,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe how spoiled I was. To this day, I’ve never washed a thing. I’m not bragging, just stating a fact.”

Additionally, Seun revealed that he joined his father’s band, Egypt 80, at the age of 8. “I’ve been with Egypt 80 since I was a child. When Fela passed away, my family encouraged me to continue with the band and keep all the earnings,” he shared.