How One Million People Attended Fela’s Funeral In 1997

This past Thursday, August 2, marked the twenty-first anniversary of the death of Africa’s most important musical icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. His influence on music lives on till date, and his direct impact on the lives of millions of fans and followers was immense.

News of his death began like a rumour until it was confirmed by his elder brother Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti: Fela had actually joined his ancestors.


In the documentary Finding Fela, his two oldest children Yemi and Femi Kuti retell the story of the funeral day- August 11 1997.

According to Femi, the extended family wanted it to be a quiet affair, done in his residence with as little fanfare as possible because he died of AIDS. But Fela was larger than life: the children insisted that he should have a public lying-in-state at least. ‘I think the family believed he wasn’t loved anymore. Everybody thought nobody respects [sic] anymore. So it was just my sister and I saying, “this man is still loved”. I said we should lie him in state at this big stadium (Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos) because a million people would turn up.’

Along with the hearse, the family got there early; just after dawn. They placed Fela’s transparent casket- with him holding a huge wrap of cannabis (a final middle finger to the establishment he fought all his life).


‘6:30am we put his body down. Then we started hearing remarks: where are the million people. I said wait now’.


By 7:30 am, people started trickling in. Soon the trickle became a steady stream and by noon, the whole place was filled with thousands of people who had come to take one final glance at their hero and pay their last respects. It is estimated that one million people were in the square that day. It was nothing less than what Fela deserved.

Continue reading on.....
https://www.headofsocials.com/2018/08/05/headofsocialshow-one-million-people-attended-felas-funeral-in-1997/

Mynd44, Lalastica, FOD

Wow

ABAMI EDA!!most radio stations honoured him by playing most of his songs too.#for everything a season#