My First Memory Of Dad Was Seeing Him in Prison;He Was Locked Up From 84 to 86,I Was Born in 83-Kuti

NEWS HUB CREATOR • 1h ago

Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has recounted one of his earliest childhood memories of his late father, legendary Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, revealing that it was a prison visit during the period he was incarcerated between 1984 and 1986.

Seun said the experience left a lasting impression on him, explaining that he was still very young when he visited his father in prison and struggled to understand why he could not remain with him.

He shared the memory during an interview on The Truth Hurts show on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, while reflecting on his childhood, his father’s legacy and the experiences that shaped his early years.

The musician, who was born in 1983, said his father was already in prison during his early childhood, making the visit one of the first vivid memories he could recall of their relationship.

According to Seun, he was too young at the time to fully understand the circumstances surrounding his father’s imprisonment. However, he remembered the emotional difficulty of having to leave after visiting him, as he wanted to stay with his father rather than return home.

His recollection offers a glimpse into the personal impact of Fela’s frequent confrontations with Nigerian authorities, which saw the Afrobeat pioneer face repeated arrests and legal battles over the years.

Recalling the experience, Seun said, “Yeah, that’s like my first vivid memory of my dad, because he was locked up from ’84 until ’86, and I was born in ’83. So I went to see him in prison one time, and I didn’t want to leave, you know.”