Exclusive Interview with Yeni Kuti, daughter of Fela – 27 years gone

Yeni

She danced with Femi Kuti and the Positive Force for almost 20 years, managed the New Afrika Shrine and now co-hosts a programme called: “Your View,” which airs on one of the foremost television stations in Nigeria.

Sixty-three-year-old Yeni Kuti is the first daughter of the late afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Popularly called YK, Yeni is known for her frank talk just as her dress sense makes you want to take a second look at her personality.

In this interview with Sunday Sun, she shared important insights.

You just returned from ‘Omugwo’, how is it being a grandmother?

It’s a big joy for me. I love them so much; I love their mother also. Omugwo abroad is hard work, but I love being with them.

At 63, you still have good looks; what’s the secret?

I exercise, I still dance, and I do cardio exercises. I don’t agree with the people who say they don’t feel older. I try to make sure I exercise every day and when I don’t exercise I’m sad. I exercise at home every day for at least 30 minutes every morning. I start my day with exercise. I go to the bathroom first, come out, exercise for 30 minutes and sometimes one hour. I think it’s so important to do those things because the body must age, whether you like it or not. The way my body is, is not the same as 30 years ago.

Is it every day you go to the Afrika Shrine (your office)?

Not all the time, especially during this fuel shortage. I go when it’s very necessary.

If you, as a privileged, are talking about the fuel price increase, what would commoners say then? 

You are the ones saying I’m privileged o. I hear o. I’m not one of them o.

Do you go to the market at all? How did you see the happenings in the country, cost of foodstuff and all that?

I don’t go to the market by myself. I don’t think our leaders understand the sufferings of the masses. I don’t think they really understand because, if they understood, they would do something about it. I’m not saying give me palliatives, give me rice. If you give me rice today, it will finish. Rather than give a man a fish, teach him how to fish. So, I feel sad with what is happening in Nigeria, it’s really sad. I pray our leaders should have a conscience. People are suffering and this is affecting everybody, except if you are Dangote or Otedola. If you are an ordinary citizen like me, you will feel it. I have been abroad because I went to look after my grandchildren and my daughter just had another baby. I read everything happening online. It’s just that I’m too old to Japa (emigrate), I would have ‘Japaed.’ You can’t be my age and Japa. Where do you want to start? It just makes me so sad. What saddens me more is the fact that our leaders go abroad on holidays and see these great countries. For me, when I see what obtains abroad, I wish to replicate it better in my own country. I wonder, when they go, don’t they think like me that they should replicate these good amenities in their country. Don’t they want Nigerian airports and roads to be like what they see abroad?

I want my roads to be like this, don’t they think like that? England is fine, America is fine, but I want my country to be better than theirs. If things are right in this country, people that Japa will want to Japada (come back). I think Nigerians are the most resilient people in the world. It is in Nigeria that people are suffering and they are still happy. I don’t know how we do it. We are the most resilient people in the whole world. We are strong. I pray we use that strength in a more positive way.

As Fela’s daughter, do people give you good or bad treatment?

Most times, it is good treatment, if they know who I am. But it is the TV show “Your View’” that has also brought my face out. Being Fela’s daughter is an added bonus. In England, a lot of Nigerians recognize me. One day, a woman saw me at the mall; she just went to the mall’s ATM and collected 50 pounds to gift me. They like me as Fela’s daughter and they like me for me. I’m happy about who my father was. You can imagine that Fela has been dead for 27 years, but it is like yesterday. That is what I want our leaders to take to mind. It is not about money. Fela did not have money before he died; he had honour, good name and a great legacy. What we are living off is Fela’s legacy. We may not have money, but good name and honour are very important. That’s what our leaders should think about. One leader that died years ago and they opened a billion naira worth of libraries in his honour. Since then, we have not heard anything about the library. The foundation (Felabration) does not have that kind of money, but we are still pushing. We are still forging ahead. We have people that have come together to sponsor, to help, and it is because of that legacy. No matter how you abused Fela because he wore pants or he smoked Igbo (hemp), he still has a good legacy and it is an honest legacy. Fela did not hide that he smoked Igbo; he was an honest person.

Do you still dance and teach dance? 

I still dance and still teach the dancers.

At 63? 

Yes, I can move. I still dance.

No arthritis? 

Of course, I have arthritis, body pain and hip pains. I’m still okay when it comes to moving sha. I am even surprised about my moves.

If there were re-incarnation, would you still be Fela’s daughter? 

I still want to be who I am. I have learnt some lessons about life. Nobody goes through life without some bad experiences that teach you, no matter who you are, you can’t escape it. I love who I am.

But you are too blunt…?

I feel that when you hide things and you don’t speak out, you feel sick. And I think honesty is the best policy

Tell us about your fashion sense…?

I love clothes. I love to dress up, and I love to match my clothes. I love to see well-dressed people and, sometimes, I walk up to the person and tell them ‘I like what you are wearing.’ ‘You look so lovely.’ I love to match all my clothes; it’s not everybody that loves that kind of style. I appreciate a person that matches her clothes like me. I got my dress sense from my father because my father loved to match his clothes. I just realised now that I’m talking to you that the same way my father feels about dressing is the way I do. He would ask you if these trousers and shoes match, and that is the way I do. I wear what I want to wear o, but will still ask for people’s opinion when I’m done. That’s what Fela did, and that’s why we initiated the Dress Fela competition, whereby the fashion designers design Fela-before, Fela-now, Fela-of-the-future and if Fela were to be a woman. The competition is slated for October 5 at Freedom Park, Lagos.