I quited smoking because I was afraid I could die before my daughter graduates from the University - Yeni Kuti

Late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti‘s daughter, Yeni Kuti has revealed the inspiration behind quitting her once-upon-a-time ‘puff puff’ habit.

Revealing she has distanced herself from smoking for three years, the 55-year-old said the thought of not seeing her daughter Rolari graduate was the reality check she needed.

 ‘Before my daughter went into the university, I used to smoke and suffer chest pains. I was like ‘if I continue smoking I may die before my daughter graduates,’ Yeni told Sun in an interview.

‘That was the inspiration I needed to stop smoking because for years, I had been telling myself that I would stop smoking on the first day of January, but by January 4 I was still smoking.’

‘But this time, I didn’t wait for January 3 or 4. I simply told myself that if I continued smoking, I would die and never see my daughter graduate. And that was just too important for me, so I just stopped. I have stopped smoking for three years. The fear of not being able to educate my child gave me that inspira­tion. I was like, who will educate this girl if I die?‘ she further said.

 Source: Thenet