FELA LIVES ON 18 YEARS AFTER LATER

The top of Fela’s residence came alive on Sunday with musical displays. The banter of the show began from the beginning of the Gbemisola Street, Ikeja, where
the celebratory ambience could be felt by all residents.

The memory of the late Afro-beat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was made alive.

Made up of mainly young and inquisitive music lovers, the audience partied hard and music was supplied by the Egypt 80 band, featuring performances by the up-coming artistes, the tribute party took guests through four decades of Nigerian music.

The Kalakuta Museum was one of the venues of the celebration of the 18th anniversary of the late legend.

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.

This year’s remembrance, packaged Afro-fusion and JP Inter-project, culminated in a grand concert featuring Fela’s stooge, Femi Kuti at the New Afrika Shrine.

Popular for creating the Afro-beat 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.