Some people predicted that 12 of us would die – Femi Kuti

Femi Kuti, an afrobeat musician nominated for a Grammy, shared a recount of a challenging period in his life during an interview with renowned media personality Chude Jideonwo.

Following the successive deaths of his father, the late afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, his sister Shola Kuti, and a cousin, Femi revealed that some individuals had made predictions that twelve members of his family would pass away within short intervals.

As the eldest son in the family, he found this time particularly arduous, with many urging him to remain strong. Additionally, amidst this crisis, Femi’s wife, Funke, decided to end their relationship, leading some to believe he would suffer a mental breakdown.

He said; ”Fela had just gone [died]. My sister [Shola] had gone. My cousin had gone. Some people were predicting that 12 of us would die. And I [was] saying, is this prediction going to come true?

“We had our internal family problems. They would say, ‘You know, you are the first son; you must do it.’ And I would say, ‘Who born me inside this wahala like this?’ Then my wife go [got separated from me]. And they said, ‘Femi is going mad.’ It was terrible.”