Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has shed light on the reason behind his late father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, marrying 27 women in a single day. The event, which took place in 1978, was seen as a bold and unconventional move.
Speaking on the ‘Fresh Off The Boat’ podcast via Skype, Seun explained that Fela’s decision was driven by a desire to protect the honor and dignity of his female dancers and band members. At the time, the media had begun labeling these women, who lived with Fela, as “prostitutes.”
“My father was under immense media propaganda. He was very scrutinized. Most of it was directed at the women in his life—his female backup singers and dancers. They all lived together with my dad, but the media started calling them prostitutes,” Seun said.
To counter these derogatory labels and preserve their dignity, Fela asked the women if they would choose to be his brides, to which they agreed. This led to the mass wedding.
Seun also disclosed that a biopic on Fela’s life is currently in the works.
