Why I don’t have social media on my phone – Made Kuti

By Nehru Odeh

Afrobeat musician and saxophonist, Made Kuti has revealed why he doesn’t have social media on his phone. Made said he took the decision not to have social media on his phone not because he wanted to stay away from the limelight, but because he wanted to curb the desire to always be the subject of attention.

Made disclosed this at the 13th edition of the Ake Arts and Books Festival which held recently at Bon Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. Made was on a panel discussion alongside his father, Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti. The subject of discourse was Remilekun Kuti’s memoir, “Mrs Kuti.” Award-winning poet Dami Ajayi moderated the session.

“But back to what he(Femi) said as well, about growing up as a child in a famous family. So I had similar experiences as he did, but I learnt to sort of manage those experiences at a very young age.

“So for example at this moment, I don’t have social media on my phone because I prefer to stay away from not so much limelight, but more so the desire to always be the subject of attention. So, I really believe that what I should do as a musician is practice my music as best as I can and deliver music to the best of my abilities. And that is what should define me,” Made stated.

Made also said the home where he grew up was different from his father’s, adding that while he grew up in a home where family was priority, Femi grew up in a home where the country was priority.

He then maintained that he and his siblings had a great upbringing courtesy of his father. And that is why he has decided to love one woman and stay with her for the rest of his life. That revelation drew a round of applause from the audience

“This kind of thinking, my philosophy in life, the fact that I can say I love one woman and want to stay with her for the rest of my life. That’s not him (Femi). So it’s a totally different life. I grew up in a home where family was priority. My father grew up in a home where the country was priority. So it’s a totally different, polar opposite upbringing. I did grow up in the shrine as well but with a lot of mediation by him.

“Myself and my siblings have had a great upbringing, that I truly have nothing to complain about, from love, teachings about life, my academics, my passion, what I want to pursue, myself, so much so that I am quite a stable person,” Made noted.