Grammy-nominated musician Seun Kuti says his late father, Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, would not have achieved the same level of success without the opportunities that came from his family background.
Speaking in a recent interview on Ada’s Room, Seun argued that Fela benefited from being the son of renowned nationalist and women’s rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
He, however, stressed that his father matched those opportunities with hard work and resilience.
In life, nothing comes from nothing. Even my father; Fela cannot be as great as he is if he was not Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’s son. If Fela was not born by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, there would be no Fela. You would never have heard about him.
Seun said his family’s name may open doors, but it also brings enormous expectations.
So, nothing comes from nothing. But the good thing about my family is that you have to work. There is no shortcuts to it.
He explained that carrying the Kuti name has never guaranteed success because he still has to prove himself as an artist.
I can be a Nepo baby but my father is not on stage playing my sax or writing my songs or touring with me. My father’s name would definitely open doors for me but as soon as you slide in, there is pressure on you to meet the standard he set.
Seun added that people often expect children from accomplished families to excel immediately, leaving little room for growth.
The fact that you are from a great family, people expect you to have that greatness. Nobody in the professional world wants to be patient with you and watch you grow or invest in you as an artiste. They just assume you have greatness in you and that puts you under a lot of pressure.