Seun Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has opened up about the role his family’s background played in his father’s success.
In a recent interview, Seun said Fela might not have become as famous if he had not been born into a privileged family. According to him, Fela benefited greatly from being the son of renowned activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
Kuti said: “In life, nothing comes from nothing. Even my father; Fela cannot be as great as he is if he wasn’t Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’s son. If Fela was not born by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, there would be no Fela. You would never have heard about him.”
“So, nothing comes from nothing. But the good thing about my family is that you have to work. There is no shortcuts to it.”
“I can be a Nepo baby but my father is not on stage playing my sax or writing my songs or touring with me. My father’s name would definitely open doors for me but as soon as you slide in, there is pressure on you to meet the standard he set.”
“The fact that you are from a great family, people expect you to have that greatness. Nobody in the professional world wants to be patient with you and watch you grow or invest in you as an artiste. They just assume you have greatness in you and that puts you under a lot of pressure.”
