By Rotimi Agbana
Mrs. Olaide Babayale, one of Fela’s 27-wives and musical band member, has advised the federal and state governments to learn leadership skills from Fela’s vision, beliefs and music, boasting that Fela’s music is the perfect rule book to successful leadership.
Fela
Speaking at the official launch of ‘Fela and the Kalakuta Queens’, a stage play scheduled to hold between December 17, 2017 and January 7, 2018, at the Terra Kulture Arena, Victoria Island, Lagos, Mrs. Olaide said;
“All Fela said in his music is still happening now; there are lots of people suffering on the roads, poverty is hitting everybody hard. The government should listen to Fela’s music and learn from it to rearrange the present and the future of this country.”
Founder, Terra Kulture Arena and the Producer/Director of ‘Fela and the Kalakuta Queens’, Mrs Bolanle Austen-Peters, eulogized the late afro-beat maestro and human rights activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, for his courage and doggedness in using music to fight for human rights and social transformation.
According to Austen-Peters, the life of Fela and his wives have never been told to depict the historical lives, fashion and dance of Fela’s women.
“Fela’s women were fearless, courageous, loyal, each stunningly beautiful in their own way. They were his shelter and queens. These women play a significant role in making him and his music a matter of public interest. This made a profound impact on the society and culture that can still be felt today but sadly, these women simply are not recognised by the society anymore”, she said.
Speaking further, she said Fela not only used music as a weapon against corruption and oppression.
“He became an artistic prophet whose music is still very relevant today as most of the things he said in his songs are prevalent till date. Fela was popularized by not only his deep political songs but also the women in his life.”