FELA LIVES ON 18 YEARS AFTER, FELA LIVES ON

 In memory of the late Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the rooftop of his residence came alive on Sunday with music and banter. From the beginning of the Gbemisola Street, Ikeja, where the edifice is domiciled, the celebratory ambience could be felt by both residents and revelers alike.

The four storey structure which also houses the Kalakuta Museum was one of the venues of the celebration of the 18th anniversary of the late legend.

Made up of mainly young and curious music lovers, the audience partied hard in memory of the late Afrobeat king. While music was supplied by the Egypt 80 band, interspersed with performances by the up and coming artistes, the tribute party took guests through four decades of Nigerian music.
As Osagie Okoduwa, Manager of the Kalakuta Museum puts it; this year’s anniversary is all about the great legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The celebration which started on Friday at the New Afrika Shrine continued through Saturday at the same venue before moving to his Ikeja residence.

For Dede Mabiaku, nothing says Fela is a living legend more than his being featured in “the height of theatredom”, the Broadway; the first African to ever be so represented. Addressing the audience, Mabiaku, a protégé of the Afrobeat king, said that through his works and recognition, Fela still lives.

“Listen carefully and let the meaning (of his songs) make a meaning to your life. You as Africans, one man come fight to make this path today open to all of una wen dey here so. You need to go back now, start to listen, listen deep and let your minds open, and let the truth reign with you. Anybody wen dey here now come here because of the name Fela. And everybody wen dey all over the world give reverence and regards to Fela. Make una start to think. The more African you are, the more legit you are. The more African you are, the more authentic you are. The more values of Africa you hold, the more the quality of your life. Everything wen Fela talk, till today everybody talk say na true. When the prophet dasheth through your path, grab a hold of the spiritual essence of what he has delivered. Fela lives,” he said amidst cheers.

This year’s remembrance, packaged Afrofusion and JP Interproject, culminated in a grand concert featuring Fela’s stooge, Femi Kuti at the New Afrika Shrine.

Popular for creating the Afrobeat style, a complex fusion of Jazz, Funk, Highlife, a bit of rock and other styles, Fela Kuti is also reputed for setting up the Kalakuta Republic which he later declared independent from the Nigerian state.

On August 3, 1997, his brother, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, stunned the nation by announcing Fela’s death a day earlier. More than a million people attended Fela’s funeral at the site of the old Shrine compound.