Afrobeat star Made Kuti has opened up about his musical journey and personal growth.
He admitted regretting not practicing enough earlier and said intertribal marriage brought him peace.
Afrobeat musician Made Kuti has reflected on his life and career, admitting that he regrets not dedicating more time to mastering his instruments earlier and sharing that marriage across tribal lines has brought him peace, not conflict.
The grandson of music legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti made the revelation in an interview with Saturday Punch, where he discussed lessons from his journey as both a musician and a husband.
“I wish I had practiced more when I was younger. I regret jumping from instrument to instrument, instead of learning them one after the other,” he said.
Speaking on marriage, Made explained that ethnicity was never a factor in his choice of a partner, noting that shared values and understanding were the foundation of their relationship.
“My family is already very mixed, and when I met my wife, it wasn’t about ethnicity; it was about values. Only during the last general elections did I notice ethnic tension, but I ignored it. I’d make the same choice a hundred times over,” he said.
He also described the difficulty of mastering the trumpet, explaining that the instrument requires strength, consistency, and daily discipline to maintain good sound quality.
“Trying to master your craft is incredibly hard. Some days are good; others are really bad. Instruments like the trumpet are deceptively difficult. It looks innocent, but it’s more demanding than the saxophone because it relies on mouth muscles that weaken quickly. If you skip practice for just three days, your sound suffers,” he said.
