Grammy-nominated Afrobeat star Femi Kuti has shared rare insights into his unconventional upbringing under his legendary father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, revealing that the late music icon never formally taught him anything while growing up.
Speaking at a Book Chat session during the recently concluded Ake Arts and Books Festival in Lagos, Femi said his father simply expected him to know everything without direct instruction, including how to read. The session, held between November 20 and 22 at Bon Hotel, Ikeja GRA, focused on the memoir of Fela’s late wife, Mrs Kuti, written by Remilekun Kuti and moderated by award-winning poet Dami Ajayi.
According to Femi, learning in Fela’s home came through observation rather than structured guidance. He recalled that his father believed people close to him had no excuse for ignorance and must always excel. While outsiders could explain their mistakes, those within his inner circle were expected to perform without prompts.
Femi also recounted growing up in an atmosphere marked by frequent police raids and military harassment, which shaped many of the questions he asked his father about fear, courage and life. He said Fela often responded directly but never sheltered him from harsh realities.
In a surprising revelation, Femi explained that his father would sometimes congratulate him when he failed in school, contrary to his expectations of punishment. The unusual reactions, he said, left him confused as a child, especially when he compared his home life with that of his peers.
Femi’s son, Made Kuti, who also participated in the discussion, supported his father’s account. He disclosed that Femi never called Fela “father” but addressed him simply as “Fela,” reflecting the unconventional structure of their relationship.
Made added that Fela did not teach Femi music either, noting that his father was largely self-taught. He explained that Fela ran his household on what he described as a “communal” ideology, where hierarchy was discouraged and even his children were required to treat him as an equal rather than a traditional parent.
