By Osagie Alonge
More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse’. – Doug Larson.
It’s been seven long years since Afrobeat maestro Femi Kuti separated from his wife Funke. Their nine-year marriage was cut short back in 2003 when the Afrobeat musician called it quit, claiming that his wife was involved in extra-marital affairs. An allegation which Funke blatantly denies till today.
Back then in April 2003, the entertainment industry was caught by surprise, when the couple decided to go their separate ways, after sources had started spreading news about cracks in the union. The couple however didn’t settle in court and still remain married by legal rights. Their nine year marriage which started from May 8, 1995, produced their first and only child, Made. While Femi has managed to stay under the radar when it comes to relationships, Funke on the other hand has done quite the opposite. With affairs with dancers in his band to several other women, Femi hasn’t entirely helped himself stay out of soft-sell magazines and gossip tabloids.
But while Femi has carried on with other women, making babies and growing a new household, Funke continues to be known and addressed as the only Mrs Femi Kuti known by law.
Now, one would wonder, if this divorce eventually reaches a conclusion, would Funke still keep the surname ‘Kuti’? We can all admit the surname ‘Kuti’ carries ‘weight’ within but with divorce proceedings now on, it’s only a matter of time before Funke reverts to her maiden name ‘Brimo-Yussuf”- also a heavy name in its own right.
Speaking with Funke Kuti through a phone call Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET) placed through, the charmer repeatedly answered all questions with a very charming voice ‘The case is in court‘.
Yeni Kuti, sister to Femi Kuti and once a dancer in Femi’s band Positive Force, says she has nothing to say and that maybe her brother would if he was asked. ‘It’s none of her business. Ask Femi, I’m not concerned, I might ask him for you‘, she said.
Femi Kuti would also not comment when our reporter spoke with him days later. But those who know Funke told us early this week, that she’s considering reverting to her maiden name. ‘She’s trying as much as possible to avoid drama’ says our source.
The Femi/Funke Kuti scenario is reminiscent of the 9ice/Toni Payne failed marriage which also has not seen a divorce case or settlement. Building a sort of comparison, we could see that the Femi/Funke and 9ice/Toni Payne failed marriages have taken the same path: both husbands are musicians and after separation, both wives have forged ahead and moved on to be successful; in fact more successful in their solo endeavours than when they were with their spouses . After her separation, Funke who was a dancer in Femi’s band went into the corporate world and picked up a job as the Public Relations Manager of the National Sports Lottery. Toni Payne after her separation concentrated on her management outfit Toni Payne Concepts which gave birth to artistes such as Zara, Olamide and Adol, two of whom have released debut albums and are making worthy buzz on the music scene.
Both women – Funke and Toni haven’t been divorced so legally they get to keep their husbands’ surnames, but here’s the twist – the former has clung unto the name while the latter has disassociated herself with it although some will argue that Toni’s surname was already ‘big’ before she tied the knot with 9ice back in 2010. So, the question is; will 9ice and Toni also be seeing the courtroom soon?