Legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s grandson, Made Kuti has revealed that he lived a life of generosity and activism, which ultimately left him financially drained.
Speaking in an interview on Taymesan’s podcast, Made Kuti said Fela earned substantial wealth from his music but died poor due to his open-handed nature.
He revealed that Fela’s home, Kalakuta Republic, was always open to those in need, and he would freely give away his money to anyone who asked.
Made further stated the selflessness was a hallmark of Fela’s life which reflected his commitment to community and equality.
Made said: “He was broke. Fela died poor… He had the kind of money that could have bought a whole street but whenever he came back from a show in Kalakuta, he would open a box of money and say anyone who needed it should take it. Anybody from the street could walk into Fela’s house. It was an open house policy, anybody could walk in and walk out at any time”.
After his passing in August 1997, Fela’s legacy as a music icon and champion of human rights endures, inspiring future generations with his message of activism and generosity.
