Afrobeat singer Made Kuti has declared that he has no desire to follow in his family’s activist footsteps, saying the burden of fighting for a better Nigeria should no longer rest solely on the Kuti family.
In a recent interview with Pulse Nigeria, the grandson of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti shared his disillusionment with activism in Nigeria, expressing doubt about its long-term impact. Despite his deep respect for the legacy of his father, Femi Kuti, and uncle, Seun Kuti, Made said he believes it’s time for other Nigerians to step up.
“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,” he said.
Made, who is building a career rooted in music rather than protest, acknowledged the sacrifices made by his forebears, including his great-grandmother, the famed activist and women’s rights campaigner Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who died after injuries sustained during a political protest in the 1970s.
“Sometimes I look at everything my family has done, and I wonder what has really changed,” he said. “I don’t want to keep sacrificing and still see Nigeria stuck in the same place.”
He added that activism should not be inherited or expected simply because of one’s lineage. “Everyone should take responsibility. It’s not the Kuti family’s burden to carry alone.”
Made’s comments have sparked debate online, with some supporting his stance and others questioning whether he is abandoning a family tradition of social consciousness.
