“My Family Has Bled Enough for Nigeria” – Made Kuti Opens Up on Rejecting Activism and Lavish Lifestyle

Afrobeat heir and Grammy-nominated artist Made Kuti is carving a path of personal truth — away from both Nigeria’s exhausting political struggles and the material excesses often associated with fame. In a revealing interview with Pulse and during an episode of the ‘Breakdown’ podcast in June 2025, the grandson of legendary activist Fela Kuti and son of music icon Femi Kuti declared that he has no appetite for either materialism or the burdens of activism.

He made it clear that cars, flashy assets, and flamboyance don’t appeal to him, describing owning seven or more vehicles as “weird.” According to Made, his upbringing shaped his perspective. “They’re depreciating assets,” he stressed, insisting that his focus is on purposeful living rather than chasing luxury. His minimalist approach to wealth, he says, stems from a deep sense of clarity about what truly matters.

However, what’s gaining even more attention is his refusal to step into the activist shoes worn by generations of Kuti family members. Citing the heavy sacrifices made by his great-grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was thrown from a building during the anti-colonial struggle, and the relentless campaigns of his grandfather Fela, father Femi, and uncle Seun, Made explained that their lifelong fight for justice has yielded little change.

According to him, his loved ones have paid more than their fair share for Nigeria’s freedom, and he is unwilling to risk his own life or peace of mind in a country that still hasn’t honored the legacies of those who tried. “They killed my great-grandmother for being righteous. So you look at it and ask, what really changed?” he reflected, visibly pained yet firm in his resolve.

While distancing himself from frontline activism, Made doesn’t dismiss the need for reform. He places hope in the power of collective responsibility, not lone voices. “Change will come only when enough people do the right thing at the right time,” he said, emphasizing that societal transformation can’t rest on the shoulders of one family or one artist.

He added that he’s more focused on making an honest impact through music, authenticity, and legacy. “I want to look my children in the eye and say I did my part,” he noted. But he cautioned against the romanticization of self-sacrifice, pointing out the dangers of giving endlessly to a system that rarely gives back.

By refusing both the lure of wealth and the weight of inherited battles, Made Kuti is rewriting what it means to carry a legacy — and he’s doing so on his own terms. While many expected him to take up the family mantle with full force, his resistance is sparking vital conversations about activism, generational trauma, and personal boundaries in the face of national failure.