FELA beyond his Music

FELA

It is difficult to believe that Fela's father was both a teacher and a clergyman. Of his four siblings, two were Medical practitioners. Fela himself had left Nigeria for London to study Medicine but instead chose to study Music.

Fela founded Afrobeat and was a musical genius. Along the line, the rebel in Fela continued to blossom. As his music changed so was his life style.

Fela was not a christian, unlike his father, but was an African Traditional Worshiper. He was an Egba man from Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West, Nigeria.

As Fela's fame grew, so too his rebellion. In 1977, Fela released the hit track 'Zombie' a mockery of soldiers. Before the record, Fela had courted trouble by naming his abode Kalakuta Republic within the Nigerian State.

To make matters worse, Nigeria was under the Military and Fela's Kalakuta Republic was within earshot of a military Barack.

Fela mocked the elite with his music and fearlessly campaigned against the military and their dictatorship.

To make matters worse, Fela's abode was very accommodating to many Youths among whom were children of the elite who wanted Freedom and openly courted Fela and fled home. At that time in Lagos, to be called an 'Omo Fela' was tantamount to being described as very wayward.

Fela with his pedigree as the son of a clergyman seemingly enjoyed the support of his mother who was an activist.

Provoked by the lyrics of 'Zombie' and the temerity of a Republic within Nigeria and close to an Army barrack under the regime of OBJ, soldiers numbering about 1,000 sacked Fela's abode throwing his mother through the windows of her residence and burning down Kalakuta Republic. 

Fela's mother was hospitalized and not long after, she gave up the ghost. The tragedy in no way stopped Fela. Instead it gave him more fame and radicalism.

In 1978, on the anniversary of the burning of Kalakuta Republic, Fela got married to 27 wives. He just wanted to give a measure of respect to these ladies who had been written off by society.

The burning of Fela's house was probed and the verdict that was a mockery, gave birth to a Hit track by Fela. The surprising verdict was that Fela's house was burnt down by an 'unknown Soldier' and subsequently Fela released the Hit track 'Unknown Soldier'.

In the run up to the the Second Republic, Fela joined Politics forming a Party 'Movement of the People' - MOP with which he promised to mop up, Nigeria. He presented himself as the Presidential Candidate of the Party but his candidature was rejected.

The Military regime of PMB also took their pound of Flesh from Fela, jailing him for 20 months, for Currency Exchange infractions.

Fela died a Pan Africanist and a rebel against establishment. He was known worldwide for his musical prowess. At home, the youths loved him. In line with his vision, his Band lives on led by his son Seun, who is well talented and like his father, a rebel of sorts. Also doing well musically is Fela's oldest son Femi who is many times, a Grammy Award Nominee.