FELA KUTI

Growing up, I never had the opportunity to freely listen to many music genre as we (I and my siblings) were restricted to few categories of gospel music. That notwithstanding, we heard trending songs from around us. We could literally sing all of the trending song as at that time, but then, our parents must not hear them from our lips.

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I remember a close neighbour of ours who was so much in with Fala Kuti, he played his song so much that I learnt to sing most of his lyrics word to word. Fela as he is generally called is regarded as the father of Afro-beat, his Afro jazzy pattern of music distinguished him from every other musician of his time. Though Fela died on the 2nd of August 1997 [few days before I was born], but he was still rampant as at the time I became reasonable enough. Of course, musicians of his kind never dies.

What prompted this post is the fact that the lyrics of one of Fela's song have for some reason be ringing in my head. For a long time now, I have not heard any of Fela's song, it was more like memories being flashed back. The song "confin for head of state" by Fela have been ringing in my head. Though the title of the song is quite awkward, but it has got an amazing message. Fela is know for always unmindfully passing messages through his songs, sometimes these messages are provoking to even the government of the time. On many occasions, Fela's verbal attacks got him into serious trouble, but even when they do, he never stopped. He was fearlessness personalized.

Now let's get back to the subject matter. "Coffin for head of government" is majorly written in Nigeria Pidgin English. The title is literally translated as "coffin on the head of the government". Truth be told, it is an awkward tittle. A really awkward one, but I believe Fela had his reasons for giving such a title to that very song. The original song is a stage performance with heavy instrumentals which lasted about 10 to 12 minute before the first lyric. The lyrics of the song was a direct attack to the government of the time and then to religion in Africa.

What interest me the most about the song "coffin for head of government" is the part were Fela attack religion in Africa. He might have been over blunt, but he stated the fact. Africans (as at that time most especially) value religion and religious leaders more than any other thing. It was of course an opportunity for many religious leaders who exploited the people. While the people live in houses that can barely protect them from the rain, they lived in mansions capable of housing a whole extended family. They eat food that can only be afforded by the extremely rich ones while their over religious members literally have no food on their tables. The song was more like an exposition of what is as at that time. Funny enough, the message of that very song is still relevant even up till date. No wonder some choose to call him a prophet.