‘I Don’t Believe In Marriage’ – Seun Kuti

In a exclusive interview with Encomium magazine Seun Kuti talks about marriage, his new album, being a dad and much more.
Read excerpts from his interview below:

Are you under pressure your dad left big shoes for you? 

I am not always under pressure, even when people try to create pressure, because they don’t understand why I’m not under pressure. The fact that I’m Fela’s son made me who I’m today. It is not something I picked up on the way. My dad always taught us to accept who we are and I accepted the entirety of my individuality long time ago. I didn’t see myself having to step into my father’s shoes, I see myself having to fulfill my aspiration. If I am happy, my dad will be happy as well.

Away from that, let’s talk about fatherhood. How does it feel?

Being a father is a special thing. Anybody can have a baby, because it’s very interesting and life changing to be a father. For me, it’s a different life entirely. Now, I have to think about myself and my family. At the same time, it’s interesting.

What are your plans to get married to the mother of your child?

 I don’t believe in marriage. I and my partner already share a very strong relationship. We’re raising a very beautiful daughter. Marriage is not something I indulge. The truth is, marriage institution in Nigeria has collapsed. Nobody is even getting married for long anymore. On the average, it’s within a year. Although, they still marry, they separate.

And what do you think is responsible for this? 

Because people get married for wrong reasons. As a matter of fact, the institution of marriage is fading away in the traditional sense of marriage – for love; for better for worse; and all sorts. It’s fading because women are no longer submissive. For you to live together with someone for life, someone must be submissive. That is easier when women are not working, and they depend on their husband. But now, it’s becoming difficult because they are now working; making money even more than men. The situation is terrible now. Even if you, as a man, is not looking outside, your wife will look.

That shouldn’t be an excuse for you not getting married; bring your family together to have fun? 

Is that the purpose of marriage? That’s a decision for me, and my partner already agreed. In fact, there was a wedding we attended in Ibadan, the couple broke-up at the reception. What about that? Because of picture, the bride’s father wanted to take first, and the groom’s father said No, and all sorts of things started. They broke-up right at the reception.

But your late father got married; as a matter of fact, he married 27. What’s your take on that?

Like I said, Nigerians are not looking at issues deeply. If you look deep into the issue you raised now, you’ll discover that in 1986, Fela divorced all his wives. People seem to forget this fact. It also goes to buttress my point that says, marriage is becoming a fading institution. I mean, Fela was the epitome of marriage. First, he married one; then he married 26 at once. He has experienced both, and later, he came out to say marriage is bad. What about that?