The late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the father of Afrobeats pioneer Seun Kuti, has disclosed the reasons behind his father’s marriage to 27 women in a single day.
In a highly audacious act back in 1978, Fela married 27 ladies in a single day.
Seun Kuti, who appeared via Skype on the “Fresh Off The Boat” program, revealed that his father wed 27 women in a single day to protect their honor and dignity because the media had already labeled his female dancers and band members who lived with him as “prostitutes.”
He 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.
