The Legacy

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This piece aims to resurrect and illuminate the core values and fundamental elements of the life Fela Anikulapo-Kuti lived and displayed.


Fela still lives and it's important we come in unison with these values he left behind. The conversation of racism, ethnicity, bad governance, police brutality, lack of identity as a race still remain conspicuous in our daily living—painfully so, hence the need for increasing our perception of the path Fela laid on these dynamics. 


There are three fundamentals to Fela. Fela the Creative. Fela the Activist/leader/rebel. Fela the Priest.


Fela the creative. To have formed the genre of music called 'Afro beats' alongside Tony Allen is genius. Today, it is one of the defining African sound embellishing the globe. Fela had his style of fashion. He was always depicting his love for the African culture in his appearance. He had an excellent work ethics. One of his band members said Fela rehearsed all the time. He ensured his band rehearse 2 to 3 times a week depending on when a new song is available. He performed with great verve and charisma. He excelled across various musical instruments. 


Fela the Activist. Unlike some activists today, Fela wasn't a rebel without a cause neither did he just talk. He acted on several occasions. There was a cause: the emancipation from mental slavery. His then wife, Remilekun, once decribed his life as a hectic one. He was arrested for no less than 200 times. He was beaten mercilessly at different occasions but he kept coming back stronger. You couldn't shut this man up. His passion for the people consumed him. He constantly questioned the supposed status quo of living in the African clime. He wasn't afraid to stand alone instead of being absolved in the bandwagon of crowd mentality. He made us realize we aren't an inferior race or citizens. He made Africans know that they can actually speak against injustice in governance. 


Fela the priest. Towards the latter years in his career, he depicted face painting. In Yorùbá mythology, it is called 'Orí'. It means one's essence. I would say he was the portal through which we behold our essence culturally. Fela relentlessly embraced the African culture and tradition ensuring we don't lose grasp of our history. It is believed the future is only properly navigated when we have an understanding of our history.


The Legacy. Fela lives. 


Art title: The Legacy. 

Medium: Charcoal on paper.

Dimension: 3.5 by 6ft.


©Macaulay Barnabas. 2020.

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