In a rare glimpse into the parenting style of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, his youngest son, Seun Kuti, shared a personal anecdote on Thursday, shedding light on his father’s unique approach to child discipline. Seun’s revelation comes in the wake of a viral video that sparked outrage, in which a teacher, Stella Nwadigo, was seen assaulting a three-year-old for failing to write the number 6.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, stirred strong reactions across Nigeria, with many condemning the teacher’s actions. The video caught the attention of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), which promptly initiated an investigation into the matter. The incident has reignited discussions on child discipline, leading Seun Kuti to share his own experience.
In a viral Instagram video, Seun recalled how his father, Fela Kuti, addressed his schooling experience, particularly his stance on corporal punishment in schools. Seun explained that every time he was about to start a new school year, his father would give him a letter to present to the school’s headmistress or principal, outlining Fela’s expectations for how he should be treated.
According to Seun, the letter explicitly stated that if he misbehaved, the school authorities should report him directly to Fela, rather than resorting to physical punishment. “My father would say: ‘I’d punish and deal with him myself instead,’” Seun recalled, emphasizing his father’s commitment to protecting his children from corporal punishment in schools.
Seun continued to recount an incident where a teacher had beaten him, which led to a swift reaction from his father. “One day, one of the teachers flogged me, and I didn’t like the teacher in question. The speed at which I reported the case to my father was so fast. What that teacher went through at the hands of my father… hmm… (laughs),” Seun said, recalling the severity of his father’s response.
