How Fela Kuti Used To Clash With My Brother Femi — Yeni Kuti

Yeni Kuti, the daughter of late Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, has revealed that he used to have confrontations with his first son, Femi Kuti.

In a recent chat with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Yeni shared that she always saw her parent as an icon but not quite a good father.

She disclosed that she was timid growing up and never confronted her father back then unlike her brother Femi.

According to her, Fela and Femi were always at loggerheads.

Fela Kuti and son Femi performing

“He [Fela] was not quite a good father. No [I never told him that he isn’t a good father].

“Maybe Femi, not me. Femi and Fela used to have battles. And Femi will give it to him straight.

“Shola and I, we were like timid. You know, they said, ‘When two elephants are fighting, the grass will keep quiet'.

Femi Kuti

“I can remember one day, Fela just came and said, ‘Three of you are useless children’.

“Femi just said, ‘For what?’ Femi just started facing him and then they started facing each other.

“Shola and I will say, ‘It’s okay’. Fela will say, ‘No’. And Femi just said, ‘Let him go’.

“I don’t think I have ever had that kind of confrontation with my father. Maybe because I was a woman”, Yeni said candidly.