Seun Kuti: People now disrespecting Fela’s name

Seun Kuti, Afrobeat musician and son of deceased Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, says people now disrespect his father’s memory.

The musician was reacting to a video where a woman claimed that her brothers spent six years in prison after a visit to the New Afrika Shrine.

The New Afrika Shrine stands a symbol of the Kalakuta Republic where Fela, as he is referred to, lived and performed to live audiences.

Using phrases like “shrine gang” and “Marlian life” with reference to the club, the woman said the incident impoverished her family as they had to sell possessions to secure the duo’s bail.

“When we were growing up, there was a Fela. I had my own elder brothers that were shrine gangs. Two of them stayed in Kiri Kiri for six years. In that process, my father became very poor,” she said.

“My mother sold her clothes, everything she had. My father sold two cars to get these guys out of Kiri Kiri prison. Unfortunately, they’re twins.

“That’s what Marlian life does to you. They went to the club, Fela’s shrine. They went dancing, there was a fight. The police came and packed all of them.”

In reaction, Seun Kuti described her accounts as “full of lies,” saying he grew up at the club and has no record of being remanded in prison as the woman’s account suggested.

“See all these lies. Fela name don full everyone mouth. Now this one is talking about her brothers that went to shrine and police locked them for six years for fighting. Does it make sense?” he asked.

“I grew up in the shrine, where is my Kiri Kiri record. Let me advise parents, it’s your duty to raise your kids and this woman is just as dangerous to their psyche as the Marlian syndrome you’re afraid of!

“Everyone just dey disrespect Fela as dem like.”

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See all these Lies by these idiots. Fela Name don full everyone mouth. These idiots that know of nothing sacred. Now this one is talking about her brothers that went to shrine and police locked them for 6 years for fighting? Does that make sense. I grew up in the shrine, where is my Kiri Kiri record. Let me advise Nigerian Parents, it’s ur duty to raise your kids and this woman is just as dangerous to their psyche as the ‘Marlian’ syndrome u are afraid of! It is because we allow people like this interact with our children we have an educational system that tends to reduce justice as it produces lawyers, reduce health as it produces doctors and created ignorance as it produces teachers hence the more lawyers the less justice. The more doctors the less health and the more teachers the more ignorance. Everyone just dey disrespect Fela as dem like, now this goats and her goat twins have gone to prison for ‘6 years for fighting’. Better tell the world that ur brothers were robbers. Ode!! #getthesax

A post shared by Seun Kuti (@bigbirdkuti) on Feb 23, 2020 at 11:02pm PST

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Amid allegations pertaining to his father’s death, Seun had earlier said that President Mohammadu Buhari and the federal government owe his family an apology and compensation.