Many Nigerians, including his biological children have found it difficult to believe that it has been over 20 years that African musical icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti died.
Seun Kuti, a scion of the late Afrobeat sage also confessed that he still finds it hard coming to terms with his father’s passing. According to him, what started as a rumour turned out real, leaving him quite traumatized.
Recounting the incident as he remembers on his Facebook page, the singer, who took over his father’s Egypt 80 band wrote; “the week preceding this one 20 years ago was quite traumatizing as rumors of Fela’s death had spread.
“It was so widespread that Fela’s very good friend Michele Avantario #rip flew in from Italy to mourn. He arrived in the morning of this exact day. He stood at the top of our street, too shaken to approach the house. I stumbled upon him while going to see my friend, Arthur. Michele what are you doing here crying? He said Fela is dead! I said no; stop crying it’s just a rumor. He pulled himself together and we went to KK (Kalakuta).
“He said he bought me the new Play station on his way. I was beyond elated. We chilled at KK. I went back to his hotel; we discussed a bit till it was about 8, got my PS and headed back home.”
At that moment, Seun said, he was the happiest man in the whole world.
“As I approached KK I saw a huge crowd outside, my elder brother’s friend Siasia was outside. I asked him what was happening and he said Seun Just go inside. Everyone was crying. ‘FELA DON DIE, FELA DON DIE’ couldn’t believe it. #20years later, I still can’t believe it. YEAR 20 A F E (After Fela Era) PS: Happy post humous birthday Dr Beko Ransome Kuti,” he added.
Fela’s demise was announced a day later, on August 3, 1997 by his elder brother, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a prominent AIDS activist and former Minister of Health.
Meanwhile, the likes of Segun Arinze, Charly Boy and others have been talking about their perception of Fela Anikulapo Kuti despite the fact that he has been dead for over 20 years.
Popular Nollywood actor and TV personality, Segun Arinze, popularly known as Black Arrow, says Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, is still relevant 20 years after his death.
Arinze said in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday that the issues Fela addressed in his works were still relevant.
He said: “He is a great icon and till date, his music still stands relevant. Most of those things he said in all his songs are prevalent till date.
“He was like a prophet but as the saying goes, a ‘prophet is not respected in his home town’, which is exactly what played out in his life.
“We still keep hope that the society will continue to imbibe the messages he left behind for the much needed change to come.”
In Charly Boy’s submission, he described the late Fela as “unequalled legend who preached against corruption, injustice and other societal ills”.
Entertainment maverick, Charly boy, described the late Fela as “unequalled legend who preached against corruption, injustice and other societal ills”.
He said: “The truth is Fela never dies; he lives on with his music.
“What Fela stood against across Africa, and Nigeria in particular, that made many to call him a mad man, are still very much our problems today.
“He talked about suffering and smiling, corruption, and fear of death that made people keep quiet or indifferent to bad governance.
“Nigeria will forever miss this great social activist and advocate of justice and equity.”
Charly boy, who was a past President of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, added that Fela was a pride to Nigeria, by taking the African musical genre to the global stage.
Packaged by Olayinka Agboola with additional online reports
