Everything You Need To Know About Tupac’s Family Tree
From his activist mother to his absent biological father, here's what we know about the family of legendary rapper Tupac.
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1. Afeni Shakur was Tupac's biological mother.
Afeni was Tupac's birth mother, and was an active member of the Black Panther Party. Pac was very close to his mother and dedicated the song 'Dear Mama' to her. She was pregnant with Tupac whilst serving time in jail for terrorism charges, and was a reformed crack cocaine addict. Afeni died in May 2016 following a heart attack. Picture: Getty
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2. William Jefferson “Billy” Garland was Pac's biological father.
Billy had very little contact with his son growing up, only getting in touch with Tupac when he became famous. Growing up, Tupac believed that his father was dead or simply had no desire to see him, which was detailed in many of his songs. Billy passed away in 1999.
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3. Lumumba Shakur was Afeni's first husband.
Lumumba was leader of Black Panthers in Harlem, and married Afeni in 1968. A year later, the couple were arrested and charged with several counts of conspiracy. Afeni was released in 1970 and fell pregnant with Tupac - the marriage fell apart when Lumumba discovered he was not Pac's biological father. Lumumuba was found dead in Louisiana in 1971. Picture: Getty
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4. Mutulu Shakur was Afeni's second husband.
Mutulu was the adopted step-brother of Afeni's first husband, Lumumba. A black revolutionary and trained acupuncturist, Mutulu married Afeni following Lumumba's death. He shared a close bond with Pac, and together they wrote the famous 'Code Of Thug Life', a set of rules discouraging unprovoked violence between gangs. Mutulu is currently incarcerated for conspiring against the government.
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5. Sekyiwa 'Set' Shakur is Tupac's half-sister.
Sekyiwa shared the same mother as Pac and grew up with him in Harlem, New York. Although Tupac referenced her in some of his songs - using the nickname 'Set' - Sekyiwa remains private about her life with her beloved brother, admitting she used to keep her surname a secret to hide her identity.
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6. Mopreme 'Komani' Shakur is Pac's stepbrother.
Son of Mutulu, Mopreme, along with his step-brother Pac, formed the group Thug Life with their friends Big Syke, Macadoshis and Rated R. Using the stage name 'Komani', Mopreme was later a member of the elite lineup of Outlawz, the famous Hip-Hop collective fronted by Pac himself. He now works in film producing, writing and composing.
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7. Yafeu Akiyele 'Yaki Kadafi' Fula was Tupac's Godbrother.
Yafeu's parents were members of the Black Panther Party and close friends with Afeni, and he and Pac were inseparable growing up. Yafeu would visit Tupac daily after he was jailed in 1995, and vowed to form the Outlawz with him. Just two months after Pac's murder - which Yafue saw from the car behind - Yafeu was killed after being accidentally shot in the head, aged just 19.
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8. Katari Terrance 'Kastro' Cox is Tupac's cousin.
Both blood cousins and close friends with Pac, Katari guest featured on many tracks with the Hip-Hop icon. Under the allies 'K-Dog' in his early work, Katari was in rap groups with Yafeu and Pac, later going by 'Kastro'. Like Yafeu, Katari was in the car directly behind Tupac during his fatal shooting, but could not identify the shooters.
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9. Elmer 'Geronimo' Pratt was Tupac's Godfather.
Like Pac's mother, Elmer was a member of the Black Panther Party. A highly respected military veteran, Pratt was falsely accused of a murder in 1972 and served 27 years in prison before being released. Tupac dedicated the music video for 'I Ain't Mad At Cha' to Pratt and his step-father, Mutulu Shakur, who were close friends. He worked as a political activist up until his death in 2011.
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10. Assata Shakur is Pac's Godmother.
While Assata is not a blood relative of Tupac, the political activist is commonly known as his godmother. Assata is known for being former member of the Black Liberation Army, and for being convicted of murder. In 1979, she escaped from prison and fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum.
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11. Takerra Allen is Tupac's half-sister.
Takerra, an author, is the daughter of Billy Garland. She shares the same father as Pac which makes her his biological half-sister. Allen is 13 years younger than Tupac, but never met him in person, sharing just one phone-call and a couple of letters with him before his death. Picture: Instagram
