Yeni Kuti revealed her late mother Remilekun stayed celibate for over two decades after leaving Fela.
She shared the story on live TV, offering a rare glimpse into their family’s private life.
Singer and TV host Yeni Kuti has opened up about a deeply personal chapter in her family’s history, revealing that her late mother, Remilekun Anikulapo-Kuti, remained celibate for over two decades after leaving Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.
Speaking on the live TV show Your View on Thursday, Yeni explained that her mother moved out of Fela’s home in 1981 and, until her passing in 2002, never took another partner. She described celibacy as a personal choice her mother stood by until her last days.
“From 1981 till she died, she never met another man. She was celibate during that period. I knew, but I could never understand,” Yeni said.
The TV host also recalled a medical incident during which doctors expressed concern over her mother’s long celibacy. According to Yeni, during a routine check-up, doctors warned that her mother’s body was “closing up” due to lack of intimacy. “The doctor asked why she wasn’t using it, that it was closing up. My mother replied, ‘Fela is the only man for me,’” she added.
