Fiery. Commanding. Omnipresent–On stage that is. Seun Kuti, the heir apparent to Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s throne strutted his stuff this summer in NYC’s Central Park at the prestigious Summerstage 2008. His slim-flitting pants, receding hairline, physique, and two-fisted salute evoked memories of his father, as did the two dancers on stage. Their rhythmical movements drew constant “ooohs” and “aaahhhhs” from the large crowd on hand, and Kuti performed “Oil,” “Don’t Bring That Sh*t,” and “Many Things,”–the title of his debut album–amongst others while the tunes from his sax and the beautiful sunset complemented each other.

With the crowd getting into it, I scoured the VIP area and my surroundings and ran into Hip-hop and graffiti legend Fab Five Freddy pictured below, and several members of the magical Nigerian youth football teams of the 80s. I had grown up idolizing these guys, so to meet them was truly an honor.

While I waited backstage to get an interview with Kuti for Jamati, I noticed two talkative, gorgeous girls freely rolling and smoking Mary Jane. They just kept on going, causing everyone to stare and gawk. Kuti’s two tour managers, Danny and Heathcliff were certainly not amused, because these girls refused to keep quiet. After signing autographs and copies of his new CD, the young man came forth. He was subsequently besieged by one person or another who claimed to know his father; in response Kuti would smile, nod, and pose for a picture: saying very little except to exchange pleasantries. Was this really the same dude who had just rocked the mic and the crowd into a delirious state? Couldn’t be. While I pondered this fact, in one whirlwind motion Kuti made his way to his dressing room leaving everyone in his wake still yelling his name. “Seun!! It is you o!! Seun!!” One could hardly blame him, as it’s been a hectic touring schedule thus far.

However, I’m certain no one expected the individual who emerged from the dressing room a few minutes later. I definitely didn’t. Kuti reappeared wearing a graffiti-styled trucker hat, an Ed Hardy T-shirt, black denim shorts, and black Chuck Taylors. One elderly man quickly remarked in a thick Yoruba accent, “Na wa o, this hip-hop generation sef.” I almost died trying to hold my laughter. But if Kuti had proved in one swift wardrobe change the difference between him and his father, his next actions left no one in doubt. After a couple of quick pictures, he quickly reached for the hand of his bi-racial–yes, bi-racial–”girlfriend” and walked off. Enough said.

As a band member, Baba Ani, told me: “Seun is a very detailed and private guy. He sticks to the program and hardly cares what anyone outside thinks.” A true son of his father, but the boy has become a man in front of our very eyes. Oh yeah, my supposed “exclusive” has to wait till he gets back from Canada.