Marrying 27 band members: Fela Kuti’s intriguing life ahead of Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction

Kuti in 1978 shocked all and sundry by marrying all his 27 female band members and living with them in the same house. Photo: Courtesy.

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Celebrated Nigerian pop star and inventor of afro-beat, a genre of music that combines traditional high life and funk is on the threshold of becoming the first black African ever musical artist to occupy a space in the coveted Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Fela Kuti, who died in 1997 after a tempestuous musical career that took his native Nigeria and the entire West Africa by storm is among 15 artistes worldwide nominated for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2021. He is said to be currently leading the voting chart alongside 82-year-old American born Swiss singer, song writer and actress Tina Turner popularly known as the queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.