The late Fela Kuti, a pioneer of Afrobeat, was remembered by his son, Grammy-nominated singer Seun Kuti, for his philanthropic spirit that left no inheritance.
Seun Kuti reflected on his childhood, highlighting how his daily allowance as a pupil surpassed that of his teacher, attributing his lack of inheritance to his father’s charitable actions.
He shared that Fela Kuti supported approximately 1000 individuals in his Kalakuta commune before his passing.
Delivering his message through an Instagram video, Kuti remarked, “When Fela was at the peak of his music career in Nigeria, our household accommodated around 500 people. Fela utilized the inheritance I was supposed to receive to provide for others.”
“Every individual at Kalakuta received daily stipends and weekly salaries, both at Kalakuta and the African shrine. Nearly a thousand individuals, including various artisans, were supported. We had a diverse range of professions at Kalakuta.”
“During my primary school days in 1990, I received a daily allowance of N100. My daily allowance exceeded the salary of my teacher.”