Grammy-nominated Afrobeat artist, Made Kuti, has said that material possessions hold little value in his life, largely due to the way he was raised.
In a recent interview with Pulse, Kuti revealed that he’s never been drawn to wealth for its own sake, describing an excessive focus on material items, such as owning multiple cars, as unnecessary.
“I’m the kind of person who just does what he wants,” he said. “Maybe my dad was very intentional in how he raised us. But the truth is, I don’t care much for materialistic things.”
He questioned the need for owning several vehicles, pointing out their declining value over time. “How many cars do you really need? I genuinely don’t understand why someone would own seven or eight cars. They’re depreciating assets. In a few years, they’ll lose their value.”
Kuti added that while some people may find value in such things, it simply doesn’t align with his perspective. “It’s weird to me, but I understand it could be someone else’s interest.”
Kuti, also explained why he is sceptical about fighting for better governance in Nigeria.
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He explained that the activism and sacrifices of his family members, including his great-grandmother Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, grandfather Fela Kuti, his dad Femi Kuti, and his uncle Seun Kuti, have not yielded the expected results.
He stated that he is more than happy to be the right side of history but stressed that he won’t fight for better governance in the country at the expense of his loved ones.
The singer added that his family has done enough for Nigeria, claiming that change can only happen through collective efforts and not individual struggle.
He said, “But I do believe that everybody has to play a part for the country to be better. We cannot keep expecting what we didn’t deliver. For me, I play my part. I want to live my life knowing that I do what I have to do. Because I want to have children and I want to be able to look them in the eyes and said, ‘I did my best…
“Selflessness, I’m very careful with that. Giving and getting nothing in return. I’m of the opinion that we [Kuti’s family] have done enough already. And I’ve really no interest in activism. I’m happy to be at the right side of history, but not at the cost of the wellbeing of my family and the people around me.”
