Seun Kuti Explains Why His Father, Fela, Married 27 Women in One Day

Notable Nigerian musician Seun Kuti has explained why his father, the renowned artist Fela Kuti, married 27 women in one day in 1978.

For years, the reason behind this unconventional decision remained unexplained. Seun, while featured on the ‘Fresh Off The Boat’ podcast via Skype, revealed that his father’s decision was an attempt to preserve the honor of the women who worked with him and were being perceived as prostitutes.

Seun explained that his father’s female backup singers and dancers lived with him in the same house. This living arrangement led to them being unfairly labeled as prostitutes by some. To counter this perception and protect their honor, Fela decided to marry all of them.

His words …

“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.”