Yeni Kuti

Omoyeni "Yeni" Anikulapo-Kuti (born 24 May 1961) is a British-born Nigerian dancer, singer, television presenter, entrepreneur and cultural promoter. She is best known as the founder of Felabration, the annual music festival established to celebrate the life and legacy of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, and as the managing director of the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.

Early life and education

Yeni Kuti was born in England to Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and his British wife. At the age of two, she relocated with her family to Nigeria, where she completed her primary and secondary education. She later obtained a diploma in journalism from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

Career

After working as a fashion designer, Kuti joined her brother Femi Kuti's band in 1986 as a singer and dancer. She later became one of the foremost promoters of Afrobeat culture and has remained actively involved in preserving the legacy of her father. In 1998, she founded Felabration, an annual music and cultural festival celebrating the life, music and activism of Fela Kuti. The festival has grown into one of Africa's largest music events, attracting artists and visitors from around the world.

She also serves as the managing director of the New Afrika Shrine, the Lagos performance venue dedicated to Afrobeat music, and has worked as a television presenter while promoting Nigerian arts and culture.

Family

Yeni Kuti belongs to the prominent Ransome-Kuti family. Her grandmother was Nigerian women's rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, while her father was Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Her brothers, Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti, are internationally recognized Afrobeat musicians.

Legacy

Kuti is widely regarded as one of the leading custodians of Fela Kuti's legacy through her work with Felabration and the New Afrika Shrine. She has contributed significantly to the promotion of Afrobeat as both a musical genre and a cultural movement.