Fela Kuti Biography: Age, Career, Spouse, Family, Net Worth

Fela Kuti whose full name is Olufela Anikulapo Kuti, also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician as musician, bandleader, and composer, as well as a political activist and Pan-Africanist. He is widely regarded as the first to pioneer Afrobeat as a Nigerian style of music that mixes West African music with American jazz and funk.

Profiling Fela Kuti

Biography

Olufela Anikulapo Kuti (born on October 15th, 1938 – August 2, 1997) is popularly referred to by his stage name Fela Kuti and is thought of as the King of Afrobeats.

Even though he’s passed away but his impact his contribution to the African music industry is still felt across generations.

In his lifetime, he was a music composer, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and political activist who held Pan-African views.

In his early days as a Jazz musician, Fela Kuti established Afrobeat by mixing traditional Yoruba drumming with American jazz and funk.

He is the father of musicians, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Yeni Kuti, Kunle Anikulapo Kuti, Omosalewa Anikulapo Kuti, Sola Kuti, Motunrayo Anikulapo Kuti, and grandfather of Made Kuti, Rolari Segun, and Ayomide Kuti.

Early Life

Fela Kuti was born into members of the Reverend Israel Oludotun-Ransome-Kuti as well as Chief (Mrs) Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti on the 15th of October, 1938. He was born in the town of Abeokuta during the colonial era.

He comes from a prestigious upper-middle-class household. He was the son of a principal at a local school as well as the son of an Anglican minister and Nigerian Union Of Teachers pioneer president. His mother was an active political activist, with a focus specifically on the rights of women. It is also said that she was the first woman among women who were the first to be able to ride in a vehicle in Nigeria.

Fela Kuti‘s elder brother was a well-known medical doctor, and also the former Minister of Health chief (Dr) Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, and their younger brother, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti who was also a medical doctor. Fela Kuti is the first cousin of Nobel Laurette and writer, Wole Soyinka. Wole Soyinka‘s mother is the sister to Fela Kuti‘s father Rev. Ransome-Kuti.

Fela Kuti lived his first years at home with his parents in Abeokuta before making the move to England to study at the university. He changed his surname to Ransome Kuti in order to Anikulapo Kuti due to the fact that he believed that the previous name was as a slave name.

Education

Fela Kuti finished his secondary schooling at Abeokuta Grammar School. Though he was destined to London to pursue a degree in medicine, he chose to pursue a music degree instead.

He was enrolled at Trinity College Of Music where he discovered a keen fascination with the trumpet. He was able to graduate after three years of studies.

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Age

How old was Fela Kuti? He was born on the 15th of October 1938, he was 58 years old before he died on the 2nd of August 1979.

Career

In England, Fela Kuti created a group called Koola Lobitos that performed a mix of highlife and jazz in the clubs of London.

He returned to Nigeria at the age of 1963 and there he founded his group, the Koola Lobitos. He also joined Victor Olaiya‘s group for a time before looking for a new artistic direction. This was the time when he invented the Afrobeat genre and changed the name of his group, African 70. Following that, he created his own band, the Kalakuta Republic which was an association for recording studios, as well as the home of many of his members.

Fela Kuti also created an evening club in Empire Hotel, which he named Afro-Spot before changing it’s name to New Afrika Shrine. Fela Kuti performed with Pidgin English, making it possible for his music to be appreciated and appreciated among the diverse Nigerian community. Pidgin English was a popular national language.

Fela Kuti and his band released their Album, Zombiein 1977 The album’s message was directed at the current military regime. The album was a commercial hit with thousands sold.

Famous for his conscious political musical works, Fela Kuti was a household name across Africa. He also traveled to Europe during his tours and performed in various shows. Another of Fela Kuti‘s unique musical traits is that his music is

extremely long, between 25 and 30 minutes. This is due to the fact that he utilizes many instrumentals in his songs and his lyrics for music are renowned for the call-and-response feel.

The year 1979 was when Fela Kuti created a political party called Movement Of The People (MOP) and planned to run for president, however, the government stopped him from gaining traction. In 1980, he made the decision to start a new band known as Egypt 1980. The album was released, Beasts Of No Nation in 1989.

A few of Fela Kuti’s most notable songs include the songs Why Black men Dey Suffer Live!, Open & Close, Shakara, Roforofo Fight, Gentleman, Expensive Shit, Confusion, Water No Get Enemy, J.J.D (Johnny Just Drop), Sorrows, Tears and Blood, Black President the original Sufferhead, Unknown Soldier, Army Arrangement, Confusion Breaks Bones, Shuffering and Shmilling, Stalemate and Lady.

A Pan-Africanist Fela Kuti was imprisoned by Nigeria’s Buhari regime in 1984 for being an outspoken critic of the government. After a period of 20 months in prison, the singer was released in the year General. Ibrahim Babangida became the president. In the early decade of the 1990s, Fela Kuti slowed down the number of albums he released and stopped going on tour in Europe.

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Personal Life

Spouse

In the year 1960, Fela Kuti got married to his first wife, Remilekun Taylor, who had three children with him: Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, and Sola Kuti. Yeni Kuti is his first child and the eldest daughter, and Femi Kuti is his first son. His son who is the youngest one is Seun Kuti, who is the person responsible for his band, the Egypt 1980 band.

Fela Kuti became famous in the 1970s after the 27 brides he married on the exact same date. He divorced a majority of them before his death.

Fela Kuti died after an extended illness on 2nd August 1997. His older sister, Olikoye Kuti confirmed his knowledge that Fela Kuti passed away due to AIDs and its complications. But his immediate relatives deny the claims.

The year 1977 was the time his residence, the Kalakuta Republic was attacked by a thousand soldiers, who burned and destroyed his property. His band members were also assaulted physically by the soldiers. The attack was a response to his latest album, Zombie, which was deemed offensive by the government.

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All of Fela Kuti’s wives are

• Kikelomo Oseyni (m. 1978-1986)
• Sewaa Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Folake Oladejo (m. 1978-1986)
• Fehintola Anikulapo Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Omolara Shosanya (m. 1978-1986),
• Aduni Idowu (m. 1978-1986),
• Shade Shodeinde (m. 1978-1986)
• Alake Anikulapo Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Adeola Williams (m. 1978-1986)
• Bose Anikulapo Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Kevwe Oghomienor (m. 1978-1986)
• Funmi Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Lara Anikulapo Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Suru Eriomola (m. 1978-1986)
• Ihase Anikulapo Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Najite Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Omolola Osaeti (m. 1978-1986)
• Emaruagheru Osawe (m. 1978-1986),
• Tokunbo Akran (m. 1978-1986),
• Damiregba Anikulapo Kuti (m. 1978-1986)
• Laide Anikulapo-Kuti (m. 1978-1986),
• Adejonwo Iyabode Oguntiro (m. 1978-1986)
• Tejumade Adebiyi (m. 1978-1986)
• Ronke Edason (m. 1978-1986)
• Omowunmi Afesumo (m. 1978-1986)
• Omowunmi Oyedele (m. 1978-1986)
•  Naa Lamiley (m. 1978-1986)
• Remilekun Taylor (m. 1978-1986).

Net Worth

In his life, Fela Kuti earned his money from selling his records concerts, tours, and shows. He had a simple but luxurious life.

Fela Kuti was able to accumulate an unspecified fortune that is believed to have a net worth of $200,000 to $300,000.