• Made Kuti, a Nigerian Afrobeat artist, reflects on his personal and musical journey.
• He discusses his experiences with marriage and personal growth as a musician.
• Kuti expresses regrets about his initial approach to learning musical instruments.

Nigerian Afrobeat star Made Kuti has shared personal reflections on his journey, speaking candidly about marriage and his evolution as a musician.

The grandson of legendary singer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti admitted to having regrets about his early approach to learning instruments.

In an interview with Saturday Punch, he said he wished he had focused more on mastering one instrument at a time instead of moving from one to another. He said, “I wish I had practised more when I was younger. I regret jumping from instrument to instrument, instead of learning them one after the other.”

Made also revealed that marrying someone from a different tribe has not affected his relationship. He explained that his family is already diverse, and his connection with his wife was built on shared values rather than ethnicity. He said, “My family is already very mixed, and when I met my wife, it wasn’t about ethnicity; it was about values. Only during the last general elections did I notice ethnic tension, but I ignored it. I’d make the same choice a hundred times over.”

He went on to highlight the difficulties of being a musician, particularly the challenge of perfecting the trumpet. While it may appear simple, he explained, it demands consistent practice and strong mouth muscles, which weaken quickly if neglected, making even brief breaks noticeable in performance. He said, “Trying to master your craft is incredibly hard. Some days are good; others are really bad. Instruments like the trumpet are deceptively difficult. It looks innocent, but it’s more demanding than the saxophone because it relies on mouth muscles that weaken quickly. If you skip practice for just three days, your sound suffers.”