My father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, married 27 wives in one day – Seun Kuti
Seun Kuti recently talked about his father, Fela Kuti, marrying 27 women in a single day. This event took place in 1978 and stirred up a lot of curiosity over the years. People wondered why Fela made such a bold move.
During an interview on the ‘Fresh Off The Boat podcast, Seun revealed the reason behind his father’s decision. Fela married these women to defend their honor. Many of these women were his backup singers and dancers, and they lived with him. However, some people wrongly labeled them as prostitutes.
Fela saw this injustice and decided to marry all these women on the same day. By doing so, he aimed to show the world that these women were not what they were being labeled as. It was a way for Fela to protect their dignity and reputation.
Through this act, Fela challenged societal norms and stood up for the respect and honor of the women who were part of his artistic journey. This event became a significant part of Fela’s legacy, symbolizing his defiance against unjust perceptions and his commitment to justice and equality.
In Seun Kuti’s Word
“My father was under immense media propaganda. He was very scrutinised. And most of it were directed to the women that were in his life; his female back-up singers, dancers. They all lived together with my dad but the media started calling them prostitutes.
“So my dad, in order to preserve their honour and dignity, asked them if they would choose to be his brides so nobody would call them names anymore and they all agreed. That was how the marriage happened.”
