As Fela narrated this subtle mischief he had perfected with his boys to ruin well planned performance of visiting Nigerian artistes by disingenuously removing vital electrical and audio parts from their musical equipment, he just burst into prolonged laughter, typical of his ‘yabis’ style at night gigs at the African Shrine.
He said he will never live in the Regions now called States.
‘Una dey try o, me I no fit live for regions o,una be like bush people,’ referring to my coming from Jos capital of Plateau State. ‘Lagos is the only place where one can breathe fresh air, I no fit’, he emphasised.
How has he been able to cope with 28 wives, satisfying their sexual interests and keeping his home Kalakuta out of petty jealousy and rivalry?
Fela points to the three wives sitting by his side. ‘Ask them if I no dey satisfy them. Am very very very strong in bed o. A prolonged hilarious laughter ended the interview.
From a controversial and Maverick Afrobeat Musician, always at daggers drawn with constituted authorities, various governments and security agencies, one should not be astonished that he grew to change his name after emerging from several detention cells.
Anikulakpo Kuti, one who has death in his pockets, as the literary meaning of the name, Fela later adorned the toga of Abami Eda.
It was Benson Idonije, the renowned music critic and notable broadcast journalist, that aptly described Fela’s muscular prowess in sexual disposition. Benson pal of Fela for decades and his manager in his Koola Lobito days shared his encounter with the randy side of Fela who kept knocking on his one room apartment door at Yaba, Lagos, every other hour, bringing a new girl each time he is allowed in, making Benson to excuse himself leaving Fela with his catch to enjoy themselves.
One particular night, he said that Fela had come four times, but on the fifth time, Benson could no longer bear the pangs of having to wait outside considering he had not slept a wink and he revolted, refusing the ‘Romeo and Juliet their usage of his room.
Fela simply laughed and told his friend, ‘I think say you be suegbe, to keep leaving the room for me’, of course no apologies.
His encounter in Accra, Ghana, where Ghanaian university students, had coined his lyrics ‘Who are you Re?, to question then Ghanaian President Busia with ‘ Busia who are you Re?, when students disagreed with that country’s leader and went on massive protest.
Fela was almost thrown out for his reckless cannabis smoking, alleged sexual corruption of Ghanaian girls and his disobedience of mere traffic lights. A pulsating story for another day.
The Fela story is more than a mouthful, would be told and chronicled on a beautiful seaside resort, with all sea foods in place with typical Singaporean speciality of shrimps inside a chilled Red Rousseau Wine.
Yes, one will think better to scribble,scribble and scribble about Anikulakpo Kuti, the man who saw, sang and satirized yesterday in today. The Justice Ikoro-Idogu episode’ Edon beg me’, that caused the Judge his job, popularized by his younger brother radical and restless Dr Beko Randsome Kuti, Fela was very fond of Beko.
Perhaps one last stop press.!!!.
Yours sincerely, returned to talk to Fela again after the demolition of his Kalakuta Republic. This time around, he was in plaster of Paris, POP on the leg and hands.
Fela and his Africa 70 band were now domiciled and taking refuge at Criss Cross Hotel at Jibowu, Ikorodu road. The good Samaritan work of his host was to turn awry.
A painful story for another day!!!
Video caption
A riveting video of Fela’s ugly encounter with the authorities is worth watching
