“Fela’s numerous wives, concubines almost killed him with stress” – Seun Kuti

Musician Seun Kuti recently shared that the abundance of wives and concubines of his late father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, caused him immense stress.

Fela, a prominent figure in the Afrobeat genre, was known for his unconventional lifestyle, which included marrying 27 wives in a single ceremony and maintaining numerous other relationships outside of those marriages.

Beyond the public knowledge of his wives, Fela also had over 100 girlfriends who resided with him at his Kalakuta commune.

Seun Kuti revealed that the responsibility and pressure of managing such a complex web of relationships took a toll on Fela’s well-being, ultimately leading to overwhelming stress.

Despite Fela’s larger-than-life persona, the challenges posed by his extensive relationships contributed to his struggles.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti passed away on August 2, 1997, succumbing to complications related to AIDS at the age of 58.