Yeni Kuti, a prominent media personality and daughter of the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, recently shed light on a little-known aspect of her father’s life during an episode of the TVC programme, Your View.
According to Yeni, Fela, the pioneer of Afrobeats, gained admission to the prestigious Trinity College of Music, London, in 1958 out of sheer pity.
It was a journey that almost did not happen, shaped by the expectations of a highly academic family and the determination of his siblings who believed in his talent despite his poor academic performance.
“I want to share a story about my father, Fela,” Yeni began, captivating the audience with her narrative. She explained that Fela’s parents were staunch academics who held education in the highest regard.
His older siblings had traveled overseas for higher education, setting a high bar for the younger ones. But Fela, unlike his brilliant younger brother, struggled with his grades, making his parents hesitant to send him abroad.
They feared that he would not live up to the family’s academic standards. Yeni revealed that it was Fela’s older siblings who devised a clever plan to ensure he joined them in London.
“His brother wanted him to stay with him in London, so they lied to their parents that Fela was going to a medical school,” she said, chuckling at the audacity of their scheme.
In reality, they had enrolled him in a music school because Fela had already shown a deep interest in music, particularly the piano. But the journey to becoming an international music icon was not as smooth as it seemed.
When Fela finally arrived in London and presented himself at the Trinity College of Music, he was met with a harsh reality. His academic qualifications were far below the required standard for admission.
“The admission officer looked at his results and said, ‘It’s only because you’ve come a long distance that I’m going to allow you into this school with these results,’” Yeni recounted.
It was a moment of grace, a decision made out of sympathy rather than merit. This twist of fate would become a pivotal chapter in Fela’s life.
Despite entering Trinity College out of pity, Fela did not let the opportunity go to waste. It was in London that his musical genius truly began to take shape.
He immersed himself in the study of music, refining his skills and experimenting with different sounds.
These experiences laid the foundation for the creation of Afrobeats, the genre that would later transform the global music scene. Reflecting on her father’s unconventional journey, Yeni highlighted the irony of his story.
“But look at it today, he is a legend,” she declared with pride. Fela, who struggled academically and almost missed out on formal musical training, went on to become an iconic figure whose influence extended far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
His name is now synonymous with musical brilliance, activism, and cultural revolution.
The story of Fela’s admission to Trinity College out of pity serves as a reminder of the unpredictable paths that can lead to greatness.
For many, it is a tale of resilience, a lesson that life’s greatest successes often emerge from moments of uncertainty.
Fela’s legacy is a testament to the power of talent, determination, and an unyielding belief in one’s true passion.
