Nigerian Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has expressed his strong belief that disciplining children without physical punishment aligns better with African values. The youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Seun reflected on his childhood experiences and his father’s firm stance against flogging.
In a heartfelt video shared on his Instagram page, the 41-year-old leader of the Egypt 80 band revisited how his father consistently protected him from physical punishment in school. Seun revealed that Fela Kuti would send a letter to his school authorities at the start of every academic year, explicitly instructing that no teacher was allowed to flog his son.
“My father would always give me a letter on the first day of school,” Seun shared. “In primary school, it was addressed to my headmistress; in secondary school, to my principal. The letter always said, ‘Nobody should touch my child. If he has done anything wrong, report him at home, and I will punish him myself.’”
This act, Seun noted, not only shielded him from the prevalent practice of caning in Nigerian schools but also underscored his father’s commitment to alternative methods of discipline.
Recalling an incident where a teacher disregarded the warning, Seun said, “One teacher tried himself one day. I didn’t even like the said teacher. The speed with which I reported him at home was unmatched. After that day, he went through a lot.”
Seun also used the opportunity to debunk the notion that corporal punishment is inherent in African culture. “It’s ‘un-African’ to beat your child,” he asserted. “Some of us have been indoctrinated to believe that African parents beat their children. No. African people were being beaten; it’s not the other way around.”
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts alumnus emphasized that true African parenting values prioritize guidance and respect over physical reprimand. Seun’s reflections invite a broader conversation about the importance of exploring non-violent ways to correct and nurture children in contemporary society.
