This generation is familiar with Davido, Wizkid, Simi, Tu Face, Zlatan, Naira Marley and the younger ones like Rema, Lyl Frosh etc but the older generation would have fond memories of Fela, Lucky Dube, Bob Marley, Majek Fashek, Ik Dairo and Osadebe.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a Nigerian musician, song writer and activist. Born on the 15th of October 1938 at Abeokuta in the present day Ogun state, Fela died on the 2nd of August 1997.
Fela for many of us would always be a legend, a revolutionary singer by all ramifications. He was loved not just for the sounds and beats from his music but much more because his songs spoke about the ordinary Nigerian, his songs reflected the struggles and challenges the ordinary faced every waking moment.
Fela may have died over 23 years ago but some of the words from his songs are still happening today. When Fela was communicating the future of Nigeria in songs, I guess a lot of us were paying attention to the tune and beats and never took the lyrics as a message for our generation
.From his 1977 song titled "Shuffering and Shmiling", the reality of the present day average Nigerian could be seen in the song. Take a look at the lyrics below:
"Every day my people dey inside bus
Every day my people dey inside bus
Forty-nine sitting, ninety-nine standing
Them go pack themselves in like sardine
Them dey faint, them dey wake like cock
Them go reach house, water no dey
Them go reach bed, power no dey
Them go reach road, go-slow go come
Them go reach road, police go slap
Them go reach road, army go whip
Them go look pocket, money no dey
Them go reach work, query ready".
In this particular track by Fela, he talks about the challenges and problems of the average man on the street from bad roads, to difficulty and frustrations at work to SARS Brutality, traffic on our orads, kidnappings and struggling to survive
In Shuffering and Shmiling, Fela's song was more than just a second, it was a prophecy. It was a peep into the future and the reality of the generation that was to come after him.
Fela died in 1997 but today in October 2020, Fela's song is one that many Nigerians can relate with in terms of experience and occurrences. Apart from the change from military rule in the 1970's to the Democracy that we practice today, not much has changed.
Well, as we yet speak, history has vindicated Fela's "rants". Summarily, I ask again, CAN WE NOW SAY FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI OF BLESSED MEMORY WAS A PROPHET?
One thing I am sure about is the fact things would eventually change for the better, we may not be where we wish to be now but I am certain that sooner than later, as individuals and as a people, we would eventually get there. For now, we must all continue to work hard and hope that blessings would find us!
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