Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has shared the reason behind his late father, Afrobeats pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, marrying 27 women in a single day.
Fela’s bold decision in 1978 to marry 27 women was a response to the media labeling his female dancers and band members living with him as “prostitutes.”
Seun Kuti explained on the ‘Fresh Off The Boat’ podcast that his father’s intention was to preserve the honor and dignity of these women.
Seun Kuti said: “My father was under immense media propaganda. He was very scrutinised. And most of it were directed to the women that were in his life; his female back-up singers, dancers. They all lived together with my dad but the media started calling them prostitutes.
“So my dad, in order to preserve their honour and dignity, asked them if they would choose to be his brides so nobody would call them names anymore and they all agreed. That was how the marriage happened.”
He also disclosed that Fela’s biopic is already in the works.
