Extremely rare photos from the day Fela Anikulapo Kuti got married to 27 women in one day 40 years ago

On February 20, 1978 African music legend and Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo Kuti married 27 women on the same day all of whom were his back up dancers.

History has it tha Fela was able to pull off the feat by putting out a notebook and asking any of the girls who were willing to marry him to write down their names and instantly 27 of them did.

And on February 20th, Fela called Ifa priests (reportedly 12) to join the wives in holy matrimony at the Parisona Hotel in Anthony, Lagos. A handful of the wives married against their parents consent but the wedding ceremony went on nonetheless.

The event was joined by band members, friends and family. Fela placed naira notes on their heads, offered a few words and dished around marriage certificates. He would then engage in a rotating system of having just 12 of them live with him at a particular time. When he first married, he had sex with one, then another, then another till the 27 were complete and then he took them all to Ghana for the honeymoon shortly after.

Another reason why the marriage held was to protect Fela, and his wives, from claims from authorities that Fela was kidnapping the women. 

Below is a list of all 27 women

1. Fehintola Kayode (Seun’s Mum)
2. Damiregba (Naijite, Motun’s Mum)
3. Keuwe Oghomienor (Kewe)
4. Folake Oladeinde (Alake)
5. Folake Oladejo
6. Ronke Edason
7. Laide
8. Emaruagheru Osawe
9. Ihase
10. Shade Shodeinde
11. Suru Eriomola
12. Tejumade Adebiyi
13. Omolola Osaeti
14. Tokunbo Akran
15. Ronke (another one)
16. Adejonwo
17. Lamiley
18. Funmilayo
19. Adunni
20. Remilekun
21. Kikelomo
22. Lara
23. Bose

Photo Credit: Giles Verdili and Olufela Kuti