Jeremy Weate–he’s behind the excellent Nigeria-based blog, Naijablog–just posted a May 2007 interview he did in Lagos with Seun Kuti–here’s Seun’s MySpace page–the younger of Fela Kuti’s two sons who followed their father into the music business. (By the way, the other son, Femi, is performing here in New York City early next month).
The interview, about 20 minutes long, is a gem. Among others, Seun talks about his admiration for his father (“my dad was the truth”), his relationship with his brother Femi, and what he listens to.
But I especially liked the part where Seun declares his ambitions to run for President of Nigeria some day–something he says wants to do “so bad.”
(Despite Seun’s protestations that he is his own man and does not try to be Fela, it is so that Fela also declared himself President: first of Kalakuta Republic, Fela’s house and performance space in Lagos. Fela also formed a political party, Movement of the People, which he used as a platform to run a quixotic campaign for President of Nigeria.)
Have always wondered where the name Seun comes from? Will go and see him live in ten days time and then can also compare his performance with Femi’s whom I have seen before.Strange how these two have been played down against one another,or is it orchestrated by themselves?
‘seun’ is Afrikaans for ‘boy’
But really not sure if this has anything to do with it in this case.
I don’t think there’s any relation here, seun. His full name in Yoruba is Oluseun.
O-LU-SE-UN–[Yoruba, oh-lu-shay-un]
–Olu:”God”
–Seun:”has done it”
–Oluseun “God has done it” or “We thank God.”
Thanks, Lucas. Not everything, alas, originates in South Africa.