‘I Was Stigmatized For Being Fela’s Son’ – Seun Kuti

Grammy-nominated singer, Seun Kuti has revealed that he suffered stigmatisation while growing up for being the son of the late renegade Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti.

Speaking in a recent interview with actress Iyabo Ojo, Kuti said his paternity also affected his relationship, stressing that he couldn’t go to his girlfriend’s father’s house.

He said the stigmatisation was appalling because his late father didn’t do anything to warrant it.

Kuti said, “Growing up, I was stigmatized for being Fela’s son. I couldn’t even enter my girlfriend’s father’s house. Even the street, people would always point at me and say, ‘See Fela pikin.’ It was annoying because my father didn’t do anything.

“Now, these killers, murderers, corrupt thieves that their actions are killing millions of Nigerians everyday, you are willing to be in party with them and hailing them. We need to check ourselves.”

He also disclosed during the interview that he joined his late father’s band, Egypt 80, at the age of 8.