Legendary Afrobeat Icon Femi Kuti has carefully watched Nigeria’s democratic rule in the last 24 years and has concluded without mincing words that the last 24 years of democratic Leadership in Nigeria ( 1999 to 2023 ) is not in any way different from the military rule as he claims they are one and the same.
It was not coincidental that he titled one of the tracks in his new album “ After 24 Years” rather it is his personal conviction of the truth he has gathered about his country. He is of the belief that things have gone from bad to worse.
Femi Kuti a great conscience musician in this song talks about the country been bled dry while the politicians look away and pretend to be rivals but yet dine together. *He believes greed, selfishness, nepotism, corruption, hypocritism has been the watchword of the political leaders from time immemorial hence reason the country has been at a comatose state and left with empty promises. *
Femi Kuti’s Album Journey Through Life chronicles his journey as an artist, activist, and father.
A careful study of the Kuti dynasty one will find that different generations of Kuti family have witnessed different era of rule in Nigeria ie Femi Kuti’s great-grandfather Canon Josiah Ransome Kuti was a witness of the Colonial times while his Father great Abami Eda Fela Kuti was a witness of the Military Regime. Femi was and still a witness of the Democratic Rule and everyone has their story to tell.
*The Kuti dynasty over the years have been known to use their music to fight social justice, emancipation of human rights, oppression by the powers that be and spoke truth to the authorities at every given opportunity. *
Breaking the Eras into three with different Kuti’s representing each era.
Colonial Rule
in many books of history and literature, you will find how Fela’s grandfather Canon Josiah Ransome Kuti stood his ground with the early colonialists when they tried to ensure most of their English hymns dominated the churches while also retaining the original Western tunes of the hymns which became superimposed on Yoruba text.
Canon Josiah Ransome Kuti was one of those who broke that jinx with the introduction of traditional hymns and traditional musical instruments in the churches. He recorded a few traditional Hymns in 1925. His introduction of traditional instruments like gangan into the church didn’t get down well with the colonialists who saw them as being fetish and pagan.
Military Rule
This era seems to have been the most popular in history having witnessed different kinds of violent events.
Fela Kuti was a focal point of the growing opposition to the military regime. They perceived him as a serious threat and used every opportunity to put him behind bars. He was regularly arrested on a variety of charges most frequently for possession of marijuana.
He broke the Camel’s back with his song Zombie which he sang about mindless soldiers who had no free will and followed orders without hesitation. When the military felt they have had enough of him 100 soldiers were sent to raid the Kalakuta Republic.
There are varying reports of what instigated this visit.
The soldiers claimed that they had come in search of one of Fela’s boys who had fought a Lance Corporal over a traffic violation and then fled into the commune.
Not only did the soldiers burn down several houses they beat residents and Funmilayo Ransome Kuti Fela’s mother was thrown out of the window.
Democratic Rule
This era is where Femi Kuti has recently chronicled his recent album release.
By Bimbo Esho
