Seun Kuti, the son of the late Afrobeats pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has shared the reasons behind his father’s decision to marry 27 women. These women included his backup singers and dancers, all in one day.

In 1978, Fela Anikulapo Kuti made headlines worldwide by marrying 27 women in a single day. The act was seen as extremely bold and unconventional. This group marriage was not just a spectacle but had deeper motivations behind it.

Seun Kuti explained that Fela’s female dancers and band members were frequently subjected to harsh media scrutiny and were often labelled as prostitutes. This negative portrayal deeply concerned Fela, who has always challenged societal norms and media propaganda. To counter these damaging accusations and preserve the honour and dignity of these women, Fela decided to marry all 27 of them at once.

Seun elaborated that this act was Fela’s way of showing solidarity with his band members and dancers.

It affirmed their importance and value in his life and work. By marrying them, Fela aimed to protect them from societal stigma and ensure they were respected.

In a recent interview on the “Fresh Off The Boat” podcast via Skype, Seun shared these insights. He highlighted his father’s commitment to challenging societal norms and defending the people close to him. This act of marrying 27 women was another example of Fela’s rebellious spirit and desire to stand up against injustice and societal prejudice.

“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 backup 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.”

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