Grammy-nominated Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has stated that some of his family’s greatest enemies are members of their own ethnic group, the Yoruba.
Speaking at the 2024 Felaberation Festival in Lagos, he specifically mentioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late business mogul, MKO Abiola, as significant adversaries of the Kuti family.
He explained that his family does not adhere to tribalism as they were inspired by pan-Africanists during their upbringing.
“Brothers and sisters, something very important is going on in our lives; ethnic problems. You call it tribalism. Please, do not bring the Anikulapos in your stupidity,” he said.
“We grew up with Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Marcus Garvey, Patrice Lumumba, Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
“Pan-Africanism was the order of the day. So, I didn’t grow up being sentimental. I saw good people, bad people. I’ve got great European friends, I’ve got terrible European friends. I’ve got great African friends, I’ve got terrible African friends.
“One of our [the Kuti family’s] greatest enemies as you know are Yoruba people; Obasanjo or Abiola. We are not tribalistic in our family.
“One of our greatest enemies as you know are Yoruba people; Obasanjo or Abiola…We are not tribalistic in our family”
— Femi Kuti pic.twitter.com/nioKJ0gIXT
— @ (@OneJoblessBoy) October 21, 2024