Kunle Kuti, one of the sons of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has shared fresh details about his father’s marital history, revealing that Fela was already married before returning to Nigeria from England.
Speaking in a video published by The Cable on Thursday, January 29, 2026, Kunle disclosed that Fela married his first wife while he was still a student in England. According to him, his own mother married Fela after the music icon returned to Nigeria around 1968, unaware that he was already married at the time.
Kunle explained that Fela did not inform his mother about his existing marriage when they met. He added that he was born in 1971 and that, over the years, events unfolded that eventually led to Fela marrying a total of 27 wives.
He also clarified that Femi Kuti, Yeni Kuti and Sola Kuti are children from Fela’s first marriage.
Recounting the events, Kunle said:
“He got to Nigeria around 1968 or 1969 and he met my mother but he did not tell my mother he was married. So in 1971 they had me. Though they had their drama, a whole lot of things happened but Fela was very insistent like, ‘You, you’re not going anywhere’. So fast-forward, he married 27 wives.”
Fela Kuti, who passed away in 1997, remains one of Africa’s most influential musicians and cultural figures, known not only for pioneering Afrobeat but also for his unconventional lifestyle and outspoken views on politics and society. Kunle’s revelation offers a deeper insight into the complex personal life of the late music icon.
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