Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s first child, Yeni Kuti said; “There is no secret to it. I just like to live happily. I don’t hold grudges; I like to be happy with myself. I like to smile and laugh a lot.
Those that know me know that I love fun. If you say I look young, maybe, that is the reason.”
“Genes from both of them. My grandmother passed away at 95 and she didn’t really look it except when she got ill. She was smart and outgoing.”
“I remember when she turned 70; Fela said: ‘mum, you are not looking a day older.’ My father too was quite younger than his age.”
“Who wants to spoil you in my family? Nobody! You will only get correct slap. I started to fend for myself at a very early age. At 18 or 19 years, I’ve started fending for myself.”
“Trying to survive. Working and paying house rents.”
“My father’s house was burnt. He didn’t have a house. My mother didn’t have a house either. We (children) stayed with our mother and we had to pay rents.”
“My siblings and I contributed money to pay rent. We never even had any house help growing up. We had to fetch water, wash our clothes by ourselves.”
“We lived in Ikate, Surulere then and Ikate was known for not having running water, and nothing like house help to help fetch water.”
“Life is transient. Do what you have to do when you have to do it and enjoy what you have. Try to give a good account of yourself so that when you go, you will be remembered for what you do.”
“A lot of people didn’t want to be our friend because were Fela’s children. A lot of people looked down on us because we’re Fela’s children. It’s a totally different ball game now.”
“Growing up, it wasn’t like that. If you went to your friends house and they knew you’re Fela’s child, the children will be warned not to mingle with you.”
“That is if they didn’t tell it to your face there and then. Even now at 60, I still remember the incident that happened one day.”
“My uncle, Prof Olukoye’s son introduced me to a girl, Bisola, and there and then she snapped into anger, telling my cousin never in his life should he introduce her to such people again.”
“It’s an experience that stuck with me for a very long time. I was 17 then and I’m 60 now, but I still remember that episode very well.”
– Source: THE SUN
