Nigerian media personality and daughter of Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Yeni Kuti, has publicly come out to disclose the truth behind her father’s death.
It was on the 2nd of August, 1997 that the legendary Fela, passed away, leaving his family, music and work behind.
Then, his brother, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, had publicly announced that Fela had died from medical issues related to AIDS.
READ ALSO: I can’t leave my marriage even if my husband cheats – Fela’s daughter, Yeni Kuti
In a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Yeni Kuti opened up about the story related to her father’s death.
Following the decision made by her uncle then to uncover the cause of her father’s death as AIDS, she revealed that she and her siblings had rejected it initially.
It was after multiple persuasions from family members that they gave in to stand by their uncle’s decision to make the announcement to the public.
However, according to her, her uncle’s decision was discovered to be the best because it put to rest the journalists who were scavenging for the cause of her daughter’s death.
They had already diagnosed Fela with AIDS at the hospital.
In her words:
“Then, I didn’t think the decision by his brother [Dr. Olikoye Ransome Kuti] to announce that he [Fela] died of AIDS was the best.
“I remember we [Fela’s children] had a big fight with my uncle at a time. They had already diagnosed Fela with AIDS at the hospital.
“Uncle Koye wasn’t in town when the diagnosis came. And he came maybe about two days later…Then he called us, Femi, Shola and I, ‘you know what has happened, I’m going to announce to the press that he has AIDS.’
“We said, ‘No, way’. At that time, we still thought Fela would survive. We said, ‘look, it’s not your place to announce that Fela has AIDS, if Fela survives, let him.’ And he said, ‘Okay, you have a point.’
“But then, Fela now died. And he [Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti] said he is going to announce that Fela had AIDS.
“We quarrelled with him. The whole family started talking to us, ‘it’s not good to lie, people are still going to discover.’ So, reluctantly, we agreed.
“But I have to say it now, I think it was the best decision that my uncle made. If he had not announced it, till now they [journalists] will still be doing underground ‘what killed Fela?”
READ ALSO: Afrobeat Musician, Seun Kuti Allegedly Leaves Nigeria For Switzerland
I sat on the hard cold floor with prisoners: Seun Kuti speaks on jail experience
Meanwhile, Seun Kuti, a popular afrobeat Nigerian singer has taken to the social space to share his experience in jail.
Battabox reported that the songwriter was ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba days after he assaulted a police officer.
However, he regained his freedom when a magistrate court in Yaba granted him bail after he provided two sureties who own landed properties in Lagos State.
