The Untold Story: Seun Kuti Reveals Why Fela Married 27 Women in One Day

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

In 1978, the renowned Nigerian artist, Fela had caused a frenzy after he married 27 women in one day. The reason for this had gone unexplained and unknown for years.

His son, Seun while being featured on the ‘Fresh Off The Boat’ podcast via Skype, disclosed that his dad’s decision to do that was an attempt to preserve the honor of the ladies who worked with him and were being perceived as ‘prostitu.tes.’

He explained that his father’s female back-up singers and dancers used to live with his father in the same house, and were thought by some people as prost.itutes until he decided to get married to all of them in order to preserve their honor.

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.”