Media personality Yeni Kuti has shared a surprising story about her late father, Afrobeats pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, revealing that his admission into Trinity College of Music in London in 1958 was granted out of pity due to his poor academic record.
Speaking during a recent episode of Your View on TVC, Yeni disclosed that Fela was the least academically gifted among his siblings. While his younger brother excelled in school, Fela struggled with average grades, which made their parents reluctant to send him abroad for further studies.
However, his older siblings, who were already in London, deceived their parents by claiming Fela had been admitted to study medicine. “They enrolled him in music school instead because at the time, Fela was already playing the piano,” Yeni said.
She explained that when Fela arrived at Trinity College of Music, the admission officer was reluctant to accept him due to his academic performance. “The officer told him, ‘It’s only because you’ve come a long distance that I’m going to allow you into this school with these results,’” she said.
Yeni concluded by reflecting on how far her father came despite his academic struggles: “That was how Fela even got into music school — out of pity. But look at it today, he is a legend.”
Fela Kuti went on to revolutionize African music with his unique blend of jazz, funk, and traditional rhythms, becoming one of the most influential musicians in African history.
