5 things Fela Anikulapo Kuti would have been talking about in today’s Nigeria
Every year Lagos stands still for the celebration of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, pioneer of the world renown music genre of Afrobeat.
Last week Lagos state devoted a week to celebrate the lifetime of Fela Anikulapo Kuti as usual by leveraging through the annual ‘Felabration’ hosted at the Afrikan Shrine.
Newsroom used the occasion to interview a couple of Fela’s fans on what Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti may likely be ‘preaching’ at the African shrine if he were alive today.
Top on the list of reactions from the fans are the following:
Corruption:
According to one of Fela’s fan who was interviewed : “If Fela was alive he would have attacked Buhari on the issue of corruption. ‘Where is Diezani and The past Governors charged for corruption? Convictions by EFCC are few, EFCC is a toothless bulldog, government has politicised corruption with authority failing to acknowledge the extent of the problem.
IPOB:
One of the fans acclaimed that Fela may likely have supported IPOB, he explained that Fela stand for freedom
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that it will enter the Guinness book of records for being the only freedom fighting organization to organise first peaceful protests worldwide at the same time and hour since the creation of the universe.
The group noted that they achieved the feat because members were dedicated and committed to the noble project of restoring the Biafra state.
2019 election:
Fela in his usual humorous manner may likely have thrown a jibe at the crop of contestants that hope to give the 2019 elections a shot: IBB, Atiku, and the other group of recycled politicians that are said to have led Nigeria where we are presently.
Army invading Kanu’s house:
Fela been a victim of the army invading his Kalakuta house may have seriously tongue lashed the military for invading Nnamdi Kanu’s house
Kanu in a recent interview said that the army invaded his house, and shot sporadically, adding that their sole aim was to take his life.
Kanu recalled he was resting when one of his relatives drew his attention to heavy presence of soldiers at the main entrance to his family home.
He said within few minutes, “the soldiers started shooting sporadically and, in the process, wounded many people within the vicinity.
Dress culture of Nigerians:
A few archival photos of Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in suit can still be found. But what has become the established Fela fashion persona is the skin-tight, matching shirt and trouser. Sown without pockets, they were often made from the same fabric and colour. Sometimes, these clothes were patterned with intricate motifs that made a statement on the African renaissance.
Fela would have frowned at the western raggy, used jeans worn by Nigeria youths of today
“My people are scared of the air around them, they always have an excuse not to fight for freedom’-Fela Anikulapo Kuti
