Happy Birthday Fela!

By Victoria Ige

If he didn’t pass away on August 2nd 1997, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Nigerian Afrobeat maestro, prophet and about the most revolutionary musician-bandleader from Nigeria, would have clocked 72 today.

Fela was a prophet who was appreciated by people home and abroad – except for different Nigerian governments who found his lyrics too harsh and too piercing. He was a thorn in their flesh, and they did all they could, to get rid of him.

Fela made music, loads of it. For everything he was known for: women, weed, wine, politics, advocacy, polygamy and even teaching, the most important tool Fela used to shape his world was his music. The lyrics are fierce and real; the music rich, detailed and intense. No wonder over a decade after his death, his amazing discography continues to be on heavy demand across the world. Afrobeat bands are springing up everywhere possible, Fela biographies are sitting on bestsellers’ lists and the broadway show Fela! is already a global hit and multiple award winner.

Sadly, apart from the annual Felabration (still on-going at Femi Kuti’s New Afrikan Shrine, in Lagos), very little is around to remind Nigerians of this genius. The government continues to ignore Fela’s legacy; the afrobeat genre is almost non-existent, while many Fela apostles have since jumped ship to set up base in  Europe and America.

Fela’s sons Seun and Femi – both bona fide stars in their own rights – continue to fly the flag though; reminding us every now and then, of the true genius that was Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

But more needs to be done. The family needs to put Fela’s only home (on Gbemisola Street, Ikeja, Lagos where his tomb is) to order. Today’s teenagers and adolescents needs to have access to some Fela memorabilia of sorts, as some sort of ‘Feladucation’. Curious adults, visitors, tourists and academics need to have access to inside Fela’s world either for personal or public benefits…We have said time and again, that the Ikeja property can become to Fela’s estate, what Graceland is to the Presleys; what Bob Marley‘s Kingston home is to the Marleys…

Just as the family has chosen the occasion of his birthday to celebrate his life and times every year, we need to continue reminding ourselves that Fela is an institution that deserves more attention from all of Nigeria. There’s Elvis, There’s Michael, There’s Marley, and there’s Fela.

Let’s treat the late hero the way he truly deserves, before the rest of the world put us to shame and do that which we have failed to do. Or, aren’t they already?

Happy birthday Mr Kuti, many happy returns…