Veteran Nigerian singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu, has disclosed that late Afrobeats legend, Fela Kuti, had romantic feelings for her.
Onwenu made this revelation during an interview with media entrepreneur Kadaria Ahmed on her podcast, “Quarter to 12”.
She shared that Fela once sought her hand in marriage, but she turned him down.
She recalled how she openly criticized the military when Fela was arrested for taking money out of the country, which was prohibited at the time.
According to Onwenu, it was during this period that Fela developed romantic feelings for her and invited her to his house to express his intentions.
Onwenu further revealed that Fela was aware that she would reject his proposal, as she later found out about a bet he made with someone, predicting that she would decline.
“When he was arrested for taking money out of the country, there was a decree that you don’t take money out of the country, and this is money he had earned from the tour he previously had, and he took, I think, about 1000 something pounds.
“He was caught with it, and he was arrested. He couldn’t meet up with his concert, and they arrested and jailed him. And I came up and said, “No, that’s wrong.”
“He knew that I would say no. I later heard that he had a bet with someone that she is going to run.” She said.
