Wednesday 15 October 2008

Remembering Fela Anikulapo-Kuti @ 70

Remembrance
By Hakeem Babalola

He was known as well for his yabis (lampoon) both in his songs and on stage. The acclaimed winner of a “free and fair” election on June 12, 1993, Late MKO Abiola, did not escape the lethal of Fela’s criticism. In fact, he called Abiola a “thief” while categorising the ITT for which Abiola served its interests in Nigeia as nothing more than “International Thief Thief”. That’s of course is simply a tip of Fela’s acerbic frankness read more

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr.Babs,
it's scarry the relevance of Abami Eda's message to today's Naaija!!!
R.I.P Baba 70.

Anonymous said...

Indeed as it is said somewhere a prophet is not honoured in his own country, or better still, till they are no more. Fela Anikulapo was a man far beyond his time, he saw far and wide into the entity called Nigeria, and he predicted, accurately, where we would find ourselves if, we don't change our ways.

Unfortunately even as we celebrate his life post-humously, the entity called Nigeria, seems to be retrogressing compared to other nations of the world, not because of lack of resources(human and natural), but we seem to be besotted by visionless, greedy, miscreants(infact, how can a miscreant led his family, talkless of a nation).

The appropriate celebration for the Abami-Eda himself, would be for us in our own little way make up our mind, that we would not allow this miscreants run us aground. We would not collude with them in anyway, we would do all that is required and necessary to rebuild Nigeria, so that she can again stand in the comity of nation.

Only then, would the efforts of our hero past(of which Fela stands tall and bold)not have been in vain.

Anonymous said...

Just yesterday, I was trying to see (in my own way) who is the most popular Nigerian ever - using yahoo to search their names: To my surprise, none came near Fela.

This was a man who despite his advantaged background decided to be on the side of the disadvantaged masses knowing quite well that it meant he was going to loose all that he had (you know - gave up the opulent lifestyle he could have for a life at the kalakuta republic).

For our so-called “Great men of God” and “Servant Leaders” does this remind them of Paul’s narrative in the Biblical “Hall of Fame”? Hebrew 11:24-26 -

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Jesus also said in Mark 10:43-45:

But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

You see, Fela might be a Ganja smoking, not “Born Again” rebel, but the principles of God remains the same – “This is a blessed man; Know why? The fire of his work has not been quenched in his death, but has been moved to a different dimension by his children and other people. (His genre of music is even studied in the western world for example at the Royal College of Music) he is even more famous after he is dead than when he was alive.

Whatsoever a man sows: That he will reap; so also will his children for generations to come reap

Fame is easy especially when you are ready to do anything to achieve it. It is unfortunate that due to negative tutelage from the generation ahead of us, Nigerians especially the “Rule of Law” and "Due Process” generation have in a funny kind of way decided to follow what Fela warned us about in ITT when he said:

Dem get one style wey dem dey use: Dem go pick one African-i man
A man with low mentality: Them go give am million naira breads
To become of high position here: Him go bribe some thousand naira bread
To become one useless-i chief: Like rat dey do, dem go, Dey do from
Corner corner pass-ee, pass-ee Under, under pass-ee, pass-ee
Inside-ee, Inside-ee pass-ee, pass-ee In-ee, in-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Out-ee, out-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee Peep-peep, peep-peep, pass-ee pass-ee
In-ee, in-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee Corner corner, pass-ee, pass-ee
Under, under, pass-ee, pass-ee Inside-ee, Inside-ee, pass-ee, pass-ee
Over world, pass-ee, pass-ee Corner corner, pass-ee, pass-ee
Under, under, pass-ee, pass-ee Inside- inside

Then he gradually, gradually, gradually, gradually (2x)
Them go be:
Friend friend to journalist: Friend to friend to Commissioner
Friend friend to Permanent Secretary: Friend to friend to Minister
Friend to friend to Head of State: Then start start to steal money
Start start them corruption: Start start them inflation
Start start them oppression: Start start them confusion
Start start them oppression: Start start to steal money
Start start to steal money: Like Obasanjo and Abiola

Fela is a true heroe; may his soul rest in peace and I hope he got saved before he died because He is one of the gone heroes I will want to see again.

We will be suprised at those will get to find out that they made it to heaven and more shocking are those we will find out that they did or will not make it


OTITO

Anonymous said...

Definitely the world’s greatest ever musician – none comes close in my opinion. Abami, Augustine Fada, Olodo, Baba 70, the one who has death in his pouch – your legend lives on forever. Oh how I miss this man.

Anonymous said...

Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti (Anikulapo)! Abami eda. Omo Elenia! Omo Dawodu Egba. Omo Bere Egba. Ba wa! There is no musician dead or living comparable. There is no composer nor arranger near in excellence.
A political musician of his type is yet to be born!

Sun re o!