FUNKE OSAE-BROWN
Wafts of pale blue smoke pervaded the air at the entrance of the famous Afrikaan Shrine last Sunday in Lagos. One of the Shrine’s attendants controlling traffic, dressed in Orange T-Shirt, held firmly a white paper.
With utmost concentration, he rolled over the content carefully, sealing it off with the thick white saliva on his tongue. He struck a box of matches, lit the roll. He pulled hard at it and puffed into the air; the smoke covering more than half of his face. For regular visitors at the Shrine, this sight is very common.
After taking in the scene, quickly, I found my way to the common entrance. The motorcade at the private entrance located by the side of the building signalled the presence of the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Perhaps, he is the first governor to have visited Fela’s abode. While he was alive, Fela was very critical of those in power making many of them keep their distance from him. But tonight, Amode was at the Shrine to celebrate Fela’s legacies 20 years after his death, with a special edition of Lagos Jump, to wrap up the activities of the week long Felabration 2017.
I was about to bring out my phone to call Ganiyu, a staff of the Lagos Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, who had my invitation when I spotted Samson, a staff of the Ministry of Information seated at the door. He beckoned on me. He told the bouncers at the gate to allow me in.
As I stepped into the passage that led into the main arena, I could hear Seun Kuti’s familiar voice. Unlike his older brother Femi Kuti, who seeks to create his own identity, Seun has decided to step into his father’s shoes. Hence his mannerisms when performing were tailored after his father’s. As expected he wore his father skin-tight trouser wriggling his waist to the beats.
FEMI KUTI PERFORMING IS FATHER’S POPULAR SONG ‘WATER E NO GET ENEMY [WATCH]
He did many of his popular numbers while still staying true to the conservative afrobeat tunes with some members of his late father’s Egypt ’80 band. Of course, his performance was not disappointing as the hall erupted to his sound of music.
Impulsively, the woman who sat in front of me, shouting ‘Yeepa!’ Jumped on her feet, turned around with her hands raised like the famous Fela’s solidarity and freedom sign, began to sing Fela’s popular song, ‘Water E No Get Enemy’ being performed by Seun.
At the event compered by Omo Baba, Humble Smith also put up a good performance with his hit song ‘Osinachi’.
Later, it would be the turn of the grand performer, the man Femi Kuti. His dramatic entrance confirms his dexterity when it comes to the version of the Afrobeat tunes he created. He is a man of his own craft taking the audience through his energetic dance steps, his long pull at the saxophone and his intermittent call out of ‘araararaara!’
‘Now, I will like to do one of my father’s popular songs,” he announced to the ecstatic audience. “This is a special one for the governor.” Suddenly, all the band boys keyed in; the richness of the acoustic showing. One could hear clearly, the distinct sounds of all the instruments yet they all blended in a harmonious melody.
“T’o ba fe lo we omi lo ma lo,” sang Femi as he began his father’s famous ‘Water E No get Enemy.’ Half way, he paused to call his sister, Yeni, to come on stage to show the dance steps she was known for as one of her late father’s dancers. She declined. She would later stand up to dance with Governor Ambode.
MORE PERFORMANCE FROM FEMI KUTI [WATCH]
Earlier in the afternoon, Governor Ambode was at the Allen Roundabout to unveil the Liberation Statue in honour of Fela. Governor Ambode said at the unveiling that Fela was a man who challenged people to free their minds of all inhibitions and actualise their true potentials, using his saxophone as a weapon to fight for the liberation of the people from neo-colonialism and bad governance.
“On this day, October 15th,” he said, “which would have been Fela’s 79th birthday, the government and people of Lagos State celebrate ‘’Fela’’ with the unveiling of this Liberation Statue. It has been 20 years since he passed on but the memories he left us with remain evergreen. Today we celebrate a man who voluntarily turned his back on a life of comfort and privilege, and took up his saxophone as a weapon to fight for the liberation of our people from neo-colonialism and bad governance.
“This “Liberation” statue is not an image of Fela but a symbol of Fela’s philosophy. This artwork was created as a form of respect and remembrance to this legend; what he stood for and fought for with his music; his mythology; struggle for freedom; fight for human dignity; social consciousness; courage and Pan-Africanism.”
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