Grammy-nominated afrobeat artist Femi Kuti described how some individuals foretold that following the deaths of his father, late afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, his sister, Shola Kuti, and a cousin at a stretch, 12 of his family members would pass away in quick succession.
He claimed the time was especially trying for him since he was the first son of the family and everyone was telling him to be tough.
This was said by the multi-instrumentalist during an interview with well-known media figure Chude Jideonwo.
He said many thought he would run mad after his wife, Funke, dumped him in the middle of the crisis.
Kuti said: “Fela had just gone [died]. My sister [Shola] had gone. My cousin had gone. Some people were predicting that 12 of us would die. And I [was] saying, is this prediction going to come true?
“We had our internal family problems. They would say, ‘You know, you are the first son; you must do it.’ And I would say, ‘Who born me inside this wahala like this?’ Then my wife go [got separated from me]. And they said, ‘Femi is going mad.’ It was terrible.”
He, however, said he was thankful for the experience, adding that it made him who he is today.
