In a candid interview with renowned media personality Chude Jideonwo, Grammy-nominated afrobeat musician Femi Kuti opened up about the tumultuous period following the deaths of his father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, his sister, Shola Kuti, and a cousin within a short span of time. During this trying period, some individuals went as far as predicting that 12 family members would meet their demise.

As the first son of the family, Femi Kuti found himself burdened with the expectation of being strong amid the loss and tribulations that plagued his family. People constantly urged him to stand firm in the face of adversity.

Femi Kuti, a multi-instrumentalist renowned for his mastery of afrobeat, recounted the immense difficulties he faced during this time. Adding to the already overwhelming circumstances, his wife, Funke, left him in the midst of the crisis, and many believed that the weight of these circumstances would push him to madness.

“Fela had just passed away. My sister Shola had departed this world. My cousin bid farewell to life. Some ominous individuals were predicting the deaths of 12 of us, and I found myself questioning whether this prophecy would come true,” Femi Kuti shared.

“Internally, our family was grappling with several issues. They would say, ‘You’re the first son; you have to be strong.’ And I would ask myself, ‘Who brought me into this chaos?'” Kuti continued. “Then, my wife left me, and that’s when they declared, ‘Femi is losing his sanity.’ It was a truly dreadful time.”

Despite the overwhelming hardships, Femi Kuti expressed gratitude for the entire experience, believing it played an integral role in shaping him into the person he is today.