Fela Anikulapo Kuti

 
 
Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome- Kuti also known as Fela Anikulapo Kuti was born on the 15th of October 1938 in Abeokuta, Ogun state. He was a multi- instrumentalist, composer, musician, pioneer to the Afro beat genre, human right activist, and a strong political Maverick. He was born into an upper-middle class family of the Kutis. His mother, Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, was a feminist activist in the anti- colonial movement, and his father, Rev. Isreal Oludotun Ransome- Kuti was the first president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUJ). Fela was also a cousin to the Nigerian well known writer and Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka. Fela Anikulapo Kuti changed his name from Ransome Kuti to Anikulapo Kuti (one who carries death in his pouch) declaring that ransome was a slave name. He formed a musical band named “Africa 70 ” whose lyrical themes is based on social issues, then later formed the Kalakuta Republic, a commune, a recording studio, and a home for many people connected to the band that he later declared independent from the Nigerian state. Kalakuta Republic was burnt down on February 18, 1978 by thousand armed soldiers because he released a record named “Zombie” which criticizes the Nigerian militia. His mother, Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti died from the attack when she was thrown from the second floor of the building. Fela did a surprising thing on the 20th of February, 1978, he married 27 women from his band who were popularly known as Queens.
He eventually died on August 3, 1997.

Kalakuta Republic