Made Kuti, grandson of the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has opened up about the financial state of his legendary grandfather at the time of his death, revealing that the music icon died broke despite earning substantial income during his lifetime.
Speaking during a candid conversation on the Tea With Tay podcast hosted by actor Taymesan, Made explained that Fela's extreme generosity was the primary reason he left behind little to no wealth.
“Fela didn’t have money when he passed. He earned enough to buy an entire street, but he was extremely generous,” Made said. “After shows, he would come back with a box full of cash and open it for people. Anyone could walk in and take what they needed.”
Fela Kuti, known for his radical politics, musical genius, and communal lifestyle, was described by Made as a man who lived by his values to the very end. He operated an open-house policy at the famed Kalakuta Republic, where friends, strangers, and the downtrodden were welcomed without question.
“Even his children were not allowed to call him ‘dad’ or ‘father.’ He didn’t want anyone to feel privileged in Kalakuta,” Made added.
Fela Kuti, who passed away on August 2, 1997, at the age of 58, remains one of Africa’s most influential musicians and political activists. Despite facing numerous arrests, government harassment, and social opposition, he used his music to challenge corruption, dictatorship, and colonial legacies in Nigeria and across Africa.
According to Made, while Fela was celebrated internationally, his contributions were not always fully appreciated in Nigeria during his lifetime.
“He got more recognition abroad than at home,” he said.
Today, the legacy of Fela lives on through his children and grandchildren, including Femi Kuti and Made Kuti, both of whom continue to push Afrobeat into global spaces while preserving its powerful message.
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