LagosExplorer reports: Made Kuti, grandson of Nigeria’s legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela AnÃkúlápó Kuti, has revealed that the iconic musician died without wealth—despite achieving international fame and financial success during his lifetime. Speaking on the Tea With Tay podcast hosted by Taymesan, Made painted an emotional picture of a man who chose people over profit and lived out his final days without material riches.
> “He was broke. Fela died poor,” Made said plainly, explaining that his grandfather had money that could have “bought a whole street,” but gave it all away through radical generosity.
According to Made, Fela’s Kalakuta Republic was not just a residence but a sanctuary for the poor, the rejected, and the politically oppressed. After performances, the Afrobeat pioneer would often return with large amounts of cash, open a box, and allow anyone in need to take what they required—no questions asked.
> “He believed in equality to a fault,” Made recalled. “He even insisted his children never call him ‘father’ or ‘dad’ so there would be no sense of superiority. Everyone was equal.”
Fela Kuti, born in 1938, was not only a musician but also a revolutionary figure who used his music as a tool of resistance. In the 1970s and 1980s, he led a cultural and political movement against military dictatorship in Nigeria, criticizing government corruption, colonial legacies, and police brutality through biting lyrics and electrifying performances.
He founded the Kalakuta Republic in Lagos—a commune, recording studio, and home to his band members, family, and followers. His defiance often made him a target: he was jailed multiple times, beaten by authorities, and his compound was raided and burned down by soldiers in 1977. Despite all this, he remained unyielding in his fight for justice and human dignity.
While Fela’s global popularity soared—especially in Europe and America, where he performed to packed venues—his financial earnings never translated into long-term wealth. His refusal to commercialize his art or submit to Western record label control also limited his income. In Nigeria, he was banned from airwaves for years, further reducing his ability to benefit from his influence.
Made Kuti’s comments now challenge popular assumptions about celebrity and legacy. They also raise uncomfortable questions about how Nigeria honours those who dedicate their lives to national consciousness and global cultural identity.
Fela died on August 2, 1997, at the age of 58. His burial drew tens of thousands of mourners, and today his legacy lives on through his sons Femi and Seun, his grandson Made, and the annual Felabration festival held at the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.