He was broke. Fela died poor. He had the kind of money that could have bought a whole street, but his generosity and lifestyle contributed to his financial decline.
Made Kuti, grandson of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has revealed that the music icon died poor despite once being wealthy. Speaking during a podcast appearance, Made said his grandfather’s generosity and lifestyle contributed to his financial decline.
“He was broke. Fela died poor,” Made stated. “He had the kind of money that could have bought a whole street, but he gave it all away.” He explained that Fela’s open-door policy at Kalakuta Republic allowed anyone to walk in and out freely, which often placed a heavy financial burden on him.
“Anybody from the street could walk into Fela’s house. It was an open house policy,” he said.
Made also recalled how Fela refused to let his children call him ‘dad’ or ‘father’. “He didn’t want any preferential treatment for them. Everybody was equal in Kalakuta,” he added.
Despite Fela’s enduring global influence, the comments by his grandson offer a new perspective on the personal sacrifices behind his revolutionary legacy.