Seun Kuti Recalls How Fela Kuti Protected Him from Corporal Punishment in School

Afrobeats singer Seun Kuti has shared a personal anecdote about how his late father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, ensured that he was not subjected to corporal punishment during his primary and secondary school days.

Seun revealed that his father gave him a note to present to his headmistress on his first day of school, warning her not to physically discipline him. This instruction was repeated when Seun transitioned to secondary school.

The singer recalled an incident where a teacher defied his father’s warning and beat him. Seun promptly reported the incident to his father, who took swift action against the teacher. Seun admitted that his father’s response brought him a sense of satisfaction, as he had disliked the teacher.

Seun’s story comes amidst a recent controversy surrounding a Lagos teacher, Stella Nwadigo, who was arrested for physically abusing a three-year-old student. Seun used this opportunity to challenge the notion that corporal punishment is an inherently African practice, instead arguing that it is a legacy of colonialism and oppression.

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