Made Kuti, Afrobeat singer and grandson of legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has candidly opened up about his stance on activism, declaring that he has no interest in following the exact path carved out by his family’s historic legacy of resistance.
In a recent sit-down with Pulse Nigeria, the young musician reflected on the emotional and generational toll of activism, pointing to the sacrifices made by his grandfather Fela, father Femi, and uncle Seun Kuti, as well as great-grandmother and iconic nationalist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. He noted that while their sacrifices were admirable, the change they fought for has largely remained elusive.
“When you look at Nigeria, you see how many years Fela fought. My Dad fought; Uncle Seun is speaking out now. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti; they threw her from a storey building. She was a righteous person who was so dedicated to the growth of Africa. She risked her life for everything. They killed her for it.”
Made expressed a deep-seated disillusionment with the results of decades-long resistance. Despite the Kuti name being synonymous with activism and truth-telling, he questioned the return on such selfless sacrifices.
“You might reflect and just say, ‘Well, what’s the point of it if all these people couldn’t bring change? What’s the chance that my song or my performance can really bring change?’”
Yet, despite stepping away from overt activism, Made is not abandoning the idea of change altogether. Rather, he shifts the burden from the individual to the collective.
“I truly believe that it’s not so much in the power of the individual; it’s the power of the collective. I believe that it’s when the right amount of people at the right time do the right thing that can create the spark for change. But whether or not it will be in my lifetime, I don’t know. I’m not an idealist. But I do believe that everybody has to play a part for the country to be better.”
He emphasizes personal responsibility over public activism, stating his focus is on doing his part in a more measured, sustainable way:
“We cannot keep expecting what we didn’t deliver. For me, I play my part. I want to live my life knowing that I do what I have to do. Because I want to have children, and I want to be able to look them in the eyes and say, ‘I did my best.’”
While many might see his stance as a deviation from the legacy of Fela, Made Kuti insists his choice is grounded in realism and self-preservation.
“Selflessness — I’m very careful with that. Giving and getting nothing in return. I’m of the opinion that we have done enough already. And I’ve really no interest in activism. I’m happy to be on the right side of history, but not at the cost of the well-being of my family and the people around me.”
With these words, Made Kuti draws a thoughtful boundary between duty and sacrifice — carving out his own identity in the shadow of a revolutionary family tree.
