Yeni Kuti, daughter of legendary Afrobeats pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has revealed that her father was admitted to the prestigious Trinity College of Music in London in 1958 out of pity due to his poor academic qualifications.

Speaking during a recent episode of TVC's programme 'Your View', Yeni disclosed that Fela struggled academically compared to his siblings, which initially made his parents reluctant to send him abroad for studies.

"When he was in secondary school, you know his parents were academics, so they were pressuring him to study hard. His older brother and sister had gone to university overseas," Yeni explained. "His younger brother had excellent grades, but Fela was very average. So, his parents didn't want him to go abroad for studies."

According to Yeni, Fela's older siblings in London devised a plan to bring him over, falsely telling their parents that he had secured admission to medical school. However, upon arrival in England, Fela was instead enrolled in a music school.

"When he got to the music school, the admission officer said, 'It's only because you've come a long distance that I'm going to allow you into this school with these results.' That was how Fela even got into the music school out of pity," Yeni revealed.

The media personality reflected on how this moment of compassion from an admissions officer ultimately led to the birth of one of Africa's most influential musical legacies. "But look at it today, he is a legend," she added.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti went on to pioneer Afrobeats, a genre that has now gained global recognition and influenced countless artists worldwide. His musical journey, which began with an act of pity, transformed him into one of Nigeria's most celebrated cultural icons whose impact continues to resonate decades after his passing.