Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has sparked conversation online after sharing a personal perspective on the life and health of his late father, Fela Kuti.
During a recent Instagram livestream, Seun challenged long-standing public assumptions about how his father contracted HIV.
Contrary to claims that Fela transmitted the virus to his partners, Seun insisted that the opposite may have been the case.
Reflecting candidly, he acknowledged that while his father was widely admired, he was not without flaws. Seun suggested that one of Fela’s biggest missteps was the unconventional structure of his relationships.
According to him, Fela allowed his partners the same freedom he exercised—permitting them to see other men, provided it did not happen within his home.
Seun explained that his father maintained a personal rule of not engaging with other women outside his residence, which, in his view, may have contributed to how the virus entered his household.
He argued that this openness in relationships ultimately exposed Fela to risks he might not have otherwise faced.
Despite this, Seun emphasized that his father’s imperfections should not overshadow his legacy.
He described Fela as a figure deeply committed to humanity, whose influence and contributions remain significant, even when viewed alongside his personal shortcomings.