Why Fela’s fame was felt globally

When he moved from medicine to music, his parents may have been worried that he might not make the right impact that they expected him to make in life. But Fela turned out to be a very impactful musician who used music as art, music as truth-giver, music as social commentator and music as a court of justice. He produced in all about 145 songs, songs that moved people to tears, to anger, to laughter, to protest. Such songs include Zombie, Sorrow, Tears and Blood, Army Arrangement, Yellow Fever, Beast of No Nation, Coffin for Head of State and Shuffling and Shmilling among others. Even though the bulk of his music was in Pidgin English, it was enjoyed by all those who listened to it because of its satirical and hypnotic credentials and its enchanting instrumentation.

It obviously angered some autocratic military leaders because his music hit their raw nerves when he sang about the ills of our society. He called his residence Kalakuta Republic which was interpreted by the military government as a declaration of sovereignty, autonomy and independence. In more decent societies, if someone called his one storey building a “republic”, it would have been seen as a source of laughter, a joke, a play thing but not in Nigeria. The military authorities in Nigeria took offence because they could not live to see a republic existing within a republic. They destroyed Fela’s building, threw his mother, Funmilayo out and the woman, a political activist, died shortly after the Kalakuta republic ordeal.

Fela named his band Egypt’ 80 as an answer to those in the West who think that civilization started in the West. The name of his band reinforces the belief by Egyptians, Africans and other right thinking persons that Egypt is the cradle of civilization. It was a response to the false news peddled by those who control the major instruments of international communication that Africa is a good-for-nothing continent. Africa may have multiple problems but it also has some assets.

Fela also called his club Africa Shrine, a place where his followers gathered regularly to enjoy his exhilarating music, his yabis, his nimble dance steps along with his beautiful and scantily dressed dancers. It was absolute fun to be at his club because he offered more fun than we paid for. Even though the various military governments hated Fela either because of his criticisms of them or because of his eccentricity or both, his music was generally irresistible. Many young and old people in and out of government purchased his music records and cassettes and enjoyed them with their families.

Some years ago, a young police officer called Alozie Ogugbuaja got into trouble with the police authorities obviously from pressure from the military. Alozie had said that some military officers often plan coups when they are drinking beer and enjoying the delicious taste of pepper soup. There were rumours at the time that Alozie was likely to be sacked even though he was a brilliant public relations officer for the police. I told Dele Giwa who was the editor in chief of Newswatch that if the police sacked him, we should employ him in Newswatch because he would make a good magazine journalist. Dele suggested that we should go to his residence and size him up. When we got there, Alozie was playing and dancing to Fela’s music. We had a conversation with him and came to the conclusion that he was good enough for a job in the Newswatch newsroom. Our position was based on the fact that apart from knowledge, he had courage, courage to play Fela’s music when the government he was working for despised the famous musician.

The Grammy Award to Fela is coming 27 years after his death. As the saying goes, it is better late than never. That recognition, late as it is, represents his importance to the music ministry, his impact in the global music arena and his lifetime relevance as a legend and an activist. In his musical compositions, and his political activism and confrontation with various governments, he showed resilience, fearlessness and abundant courage. All of these qualities that he exhibited provided the impact that wooed the world and made them decide to honour him.

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In Nigeria, he received no honour from any of our governments whether from Ogun State where he came from or from Lagos where he lived or at the centre. This is because he used his music to confront the guts and guns of the military elite in Nigeria and they saw that as a challenge to their might. But the common people in Nigeria loved him. All the musicians of his era were known by their full names (for example Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey) not by one name. But because of Fela’s popularity and his proximity to the hoi-polloi, he was simply called by one and all Fela. One name, the first name was enough to identify him with. Only very few eminent persons have reached that level of eminence and popularity that have given them a clear identity with only their first name. Such examples include Murtala, (Muhammed), Nigeria’s former military ruler and Gani (Fawehinmi) a legendary lawyer.

A few years ago, there was an armed robbery incident in Lagos. Fela saw the robbers and simply shouted Fela ni – o and the robbers saluted him and asked him to go. That was a validation of his place as a man of the people, ordinary people including robbers.

A few years ago, the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, visited Nigeria. It was a strange request when he asked to be taken to the African Shrine, a night club which is now run by Fela’s son, Femi. The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu took the French president to the club. That was a clear evidence of Fela’s impact globally. That was a validation of Fela’s impact as a legend.

While we are “shuffling and shmilling”, let us Felabrate our legend even if we admit that a prophet hardly has honour in his homestead.