Before I try to make sense of the unfortunate events of the past few days, particularly the trending video clip of Oluseun Kuti, that showcased indiscretion and lawlessness. Permit me to share with us through this contribution, the enviable family background of Seun Kuti: Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known as Seun Kuti, a Nigerian musician, singer, and the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father’s former band Egypt 80.
Seun Kuti’s father is the late iconic musician and activist Fela Kuti. Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti), also known as Abami Eda, is an iconic Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. Kuti is regarded as the pioneer of Afrobeat (a Nigerian music genre that combines West African music with American funk and jazz.)
Interestingly, There is no direct connection between Fela’s career and those of his father or grandfather. Fela was not the inheritor of a lineage as much as the originator of one: the link between his life and work and those of some of his own children and grandchildren, male and female, is pronounced.
Prominent among those children are his daughter Yeni and his sons Femi and Seun. Each began their career as a member of Fela’s Egypt 80. Each shares their father’s pan-Africanist outlook and unconditional belief in human rights, and actively campaigns against the corruption which, today as in Fela’s day, holds back African development.
Unarguably, Fela was referred to as one of Africa’s most “challenging and charismatic music performers.” He was described by All-Music as a musical and sociopolitical voice of international significance. Fela fronted the band Egypt 80 and was succeeded by his son as the band’s leader after his death. Seun, the younger Kuti has done well for himself. He has carved a niche for himself and done his bit to sustain the legacies of the Abami Eda. Seun was nominated for a Grammys award in 2019.
For those who do not know, Seun is one of the grandchildren of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti: Nigeria’s ‘lioness of Lisabi’ “Beree” as she was nicknamed. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a Nigerian activist, feminist, and the first woman in Abeokuta to drive a car. She is recognized as the first female Nigerian political activist. She is lovingly called “The Mother of Africa.” Her full name is Francis Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas.
No doubt: Seun Kuti inherited a huge burden of the family’s grace. The son of legendary Fela Kuti, whose direct brothers Beko Ransome-Kuti and Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, both medical doctors, were well-known in Nigeria. Fela is a first cousin to the Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, the first black African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
All these (ṣàlàyé) explanations are to properly interrogate Seun’s background, providentially sought for and scrutinizing the character of a supposedly iconic figure caught on the wrong side of the law. So, what has changed? What happened to the son of legendary Abami-eda, the grandson of Beree, the nephew of the celebrated medical giants, Prof Olukoye and Bekololari Ramsome-Kuti? What happened Seun? These are the questions agitating the minds of some of us who treasures and admired the kuti’s dynasty.
In lieu of the above, without prejudice to the outcome of the investigation as directed by the Inspector-general of the police. I like to recommend more stringent but productive measures of punishment as a deterrent for incongruence and indiscretion. Seun should be made to continue to serve as a role model given his pedigree and personal accomplishment; he should be made to volunteer for monthly concerts whereby he will use both his talent and resources to encourage good behavior aside from public apologies and monetary donations to the victim of assault.
Richard Odusanya
Mind Restructuring Enthusiast.
Post Views: 323
