Entertainment
Nigerians Remember Fela As Economic Recession Worsens
Many years after Afobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti died, things have become worse. One of the core reasons Fela Kuti is being revered as a legend is his ability to use his music as a weapon and oftentimes, Fela has been quoted in that regard.
Nigeria more than ever misses the legend, Fela, especially dealing with the present harsh economic realities. One reason the legend of Fela lives long is that his music was very society conscious and politically motivated. He used his music to echo the desires of the masses who are voiceless and gagged. For about four decades now the political injustice and societal imbalance Fela sang about is still very much in display.
Since the dawn of the millennium, Nigerian music has flourished beyond what the older generations witnessed, but that seemingly comes with compromise and indifference from the current breed of artistes. Everyone seems okay with the evils that persist or worse still, “we act like saying nothing spoil”.
Our generation of Nigerian artistes are cowards and selfish to say the least. None of them should soliloquy even in their closets about coming close to being “Fela Kuti in legends or to be upheld in that regards. Fela Kuti was not a coward. Our dear artitses are chasing commercial success (which isn’t bad) but neglect simple civic responsibilities to the community they were raised, to whom much is given much is expected.
Making massive dance tunes helps us cope with our problems, but it never erases it. We still wake up to it daily. 2 Baba came really close to hitting the same spotlight as Fela, but he messed up his chances. It is well understood 2 Baba did not initiate the anti government protest. He showed support and promised to participate only to pull a “coitus interuptus” at night before the protest. Main reason behind the withdrawal is allegedly for “Damage Control”.
It should have occurred to 2 Baba before his pull out that the path he had chosen was an uneasy one. Challenges, threats should be well expected. We all know Fela had to deal with opposition, arrest, loss of property and his dear mother as he sought to b an agent of change.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.