Femi further elaborated on Fela’s expectations. “If you are Fela’s person you had to excel beyond reasonable doubt. You just had to know. So you couldn’t give excuses,” he explained.
“I learnt by just watching him,” Femi recounted. “I would ask questions probably like ‘Are you not afraid to die?’ He would give me his answer.”
He continued, “And as I was growing up I would say ‘what’s wrong?’ … but if I failed… Fela would say, ‘Ah you failed, well done.’”
Emphasizing his desire for individuality, Femi concluded, “If God wanted me to be Fela, I would have been Fela. I had to be Femi Kuti.”
Nigerian Afrobeat star Femi Kuti recently shared insights into his childhood. He spoke about growing up with his father, the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Femi revealed he received no direct teaching. Instead, he learned to navigate life primarily through keen observation.
Femi explained there were no formal lessons at home. Despite this, Fela expected him to grasp things independently. He recalled being pushed to read and understand many subjects. This happened even without traditional schooling or direct instruction.
Femi noted that a typical father-son bond was absent in their home. Fela demanded excellence from everyone in his circle. Failure was simply not an option. Excuses were also never accepted.
This environment forced Femi to rely on watching his father’s actions. He learned significantly from daily experiences. His understanding of life grew from observing Fela. He watched how Fela handled danger, police raids, and other challenges. Femi often asked questions about fear and survival. These moments shaped his thinking deeply. They influenced him more than any classroom could have.
Interestingly, Femi also revealed that poor school results never angered Fela. Fela’s reaction was often confusing. This made Femi question what his father truly expected from him as a child. These unique experiences, Femi noted, fuelled his desire for independence.
He recalled leaving Fela’s band many years ago. This was to build his own identity. He wanted to follow his unique musical path. Femi firmly believed he was meant to be himself. He was not a mere copy of his legendary father.
When Femi released his first album, Fela reportedly dismissed it. Despite this, Femi continued to work and grow. He built a career reflecting his own distinct sound and journey.
Femi shared some direct quotes from his father. “He expected me to know how to read,” Femi stated. “How is it possible to know how to read if I am not taught? If I haven’t got any formal education of any sort, how can I read? But I had to read.” Fela would tell him, “You should know.” He would also ask, “Did you take your brain and put it in my head?”
Femi further elaborated on Fela’s expectations. “If you are Fela’s person you had to excel beyond reasonable doubt. You just had to know. So you couldn’t give excuses,” he explained.
“I learnt by just watching him,” Femi recounted. “I would ask questions probably like ‘Are you not afraid to die?’ He would give me his answer.”
He continued, “And as I was growing up I would say ‘what’s wrong?’ … but if I failed… Fela would say, ‘Ah you failed, well done.’”
Emphasizing his desire for individuality, Femi concluded, “If God wanted me to be Fela, I would have been Fela. I had to be Femi Kuti.”
About the Author
