In a recent video, Nigerian musician Seun Kuti has come out in support of activist Omoyele Sowore, despite Sowore's personal controversies. Kuti argues that Sowore's mistakes shouldn't overshadow his work as an activist.
Kuti uses his late father, legendary musician Fela Kuti, as an example. He acknowledges Fela's imperfections, including his multiple marriages and lifestyle choices, but says these don't define his overall positive impact.
Addressing rumors about HIV/AIDS in his family, Seun Kuti frames Fela's lifestyle as a choice for freedom and honesty, rather than a moral failing. He claims Fela allowed his wives to have relationships with other men, as long as they didn't bring them home.
Kuti urges people to focus on the bigger picture, saying activists like Sowore should be judged on their overall mission, not personal mistakes. He contrasts this with the current government, which he accuses of being "on the side of death".
In his words:
"This is life and death. Support those people that are trying to support life. They might make mistakes in their way of trying to support life, but you can see that they are on the side of life. You understand what I'm saying?
"Do you think my father was perfect? Fela made many mistakes. I say, one of the mistakes my papa made—let me tell you. Okay, I see one girl online, they talk one day, say, 'See Fela, they are praising him. Did he give his women AIDS? This Fela done die of AIDS, give... Fela was giving his women HIV.' I say, 'Oh, Fela, you see yourself?'
"You see yourself? Because if to say Fela na traditional man, as una think, you would still be alive. And I'll tell you something today about him that you might not have known: Fela's women all had other men. I know this will give your bloggers something to say. Go and say this one to all the ignorant fools. Fela did not keep his women to himself. Fela believe say as him dey free to sleep with all these women, all his women too are free to go and meet other men.
"'Just don't bring them to my house.' That was my father's law. And my papa no dey ever come out for him house go find woman; na women dey always stay with... so na them bring cam (come) house come meet am. I repeat: Fela him no dey go outside go do woman. Any woman way he like, go bring am come him house. Na them go outside go bring am come inside house.
"So nobody is perfect. Nobody is perfect. It's not in your place to be pointing to his error. He's on the side of life. Sowore is on the side of life. It's not in your place to be saying he made mistakes, looking for him to be wrong so that you can support those people on the side of death that are killing us every day, destroying our life. So they can earn points for death. You are looking for death. So they find... that's what they are. To be wrong, una go tire." Seun said.
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