Grammy-nominated afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has recounted how some people predicted that 12 of his family members would die in short intervals after the deaths of his father, late afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, his sister, Shola Kuti, and a cousin at a stretch.

He said that period was particularly difficult for him because many were urging him to be strong, being the first son of the family.

The multi-instrumentalist stated this in an interview with popular media personality Chude Jideonwo.

He said many thought he would run mad after his wife, Funke, dumped him in the middle of the crisis.

Kuti said: “Fela had just gone [died]. My sister [Shola] had gone. My cousin had gone. Some people were predicting that 12 of us would die. And I was saying, Is this prediction going to come true?

“We had our internal family problems. They would say, ‘You know, you are the first son; you must do it.’ And I would say, ‘Who brought me inside this wahala like this?’ Then my wife went [got separated from me]. And they said, ‘Femi is going mad.’ It was terrible.”

He, however, said he was thankful for the experience, adding that it made him who he is today.