Afrobeat star Seun Kuti recently shared some insight into his father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s, unique mass wedding back in 1978. Fela, known as the pioneer of Afrobeats, made headlines when he married 27 women all at once.
In a podcast interview on ‘Fresh Off The Boat’, Seun revealed that his father’s decision to have a mass wedding was a strategic one. It was a way to protect his female dancers and band members from the media’s harsh scrutiny and derogatory labels as “prostitutes.”
“My father was constantly under attack from the media, and most of the criticism was directed towards the women in his life – his female back-up singers and dancers. They all lived together with my dad, and the media started labeling them as prostitutes,” Seun explained.
In order to safeguard their honor and dignity, Fela proposed to the women if they would be willing to marry him. This move was intended to put an end to the slanderous accusations and give the women a sense of respect and legitimacy in society.
Seun also mentioned that a biopic about Fela’s life is currently in the works, shedding light on the fascinating and controversial legacy of the iconic musician.
