What would Fela think about Fela! The Concert?



As I type this on Thursday, 13th April 2017, the opening show for Fela The Concert Lagos is ongoing somewhere in Eko Hotels and Suites. And I have been thinking, if the man Fela were alive, what kind of show would he organize?
I did not know the man Fela when he was alive. I knew some of his songs, and he was popular, so I heard about him from time to time, especially when he made the news. But I did not know the man. Based on what I have read and heard, I probably would have been confused. I would have struggled with some aspects of his life (his personal and moral shortcomings), and held him in awe in other aspects. But I did not know the man when he lived. I have grown to like his music, and I wonder about the man who created such beautiful music.


If Abami Eda, the weird one, were alive, would he organize a show in collaboration with the Lagos State Government? The same government responsible for the displacement of the members of Otodo Gbame riverine community? Would the son of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, whose music rings like prophecy today, use Eko Hotels and Conference Centre for his show? Would he, the crooner of Vagabonds in Power (VIP) differentiate between VIP attendees, regulars and general attendees (or gbogbo ero)? Or would the gate fee be a flat rate? Would he have been concerned that price of the Standard ticket was almost the same as minimum wage, and that Premium and VIP tickets cost way above minimum wage?
What would Fela, the one who rejected “slave name” and christened himself “Anikulapo” say about oyibo people producing his concert and taking it around the world? What lyrics will he compose inspired by the foreign accents of the Nigerians at the show, especially the VIP area? The ones who went to the abroad as adults, yet speak with a mélange of accents. The ones who spend three months in China and return to Nigeria with British accents.
Would the much clamoured for “change” in Nigeria have changed Fela? Would he have sought political appointment and become chummy with people who stash millions of dollars in their homes? What would Fela have said about our recycling system of government?

I am going to attend one of the shows. I am sure it will be an excellent show. Those who attended Fela! On Broadway say it was beautiful. They say it was worth every Naira they paid for the tickets. I don't expect this concert to be any less, and I am looking forward to singing along and dancing. 

But I’ve been thinking, what would Fela think about this show and its audience? And I’ve been thinking, as we enjoy the concert, shouldn’t we also remember those members of our society, for whom such concert would be extreme luxury? Shouldn’t we think about what we can do pursue justice and get us closer to equal?

Comments

Oche Chidi said…
Quite some food for thought. I try to pass everytin through d grid of my Christian worldview. That Fela was an acclaimed Human right activist is a plus. I believe most problems( if not all) are moral problems. That's why development in my view is not just solving d poverty issue but also maintaining those social mores( d good ones) and Christian virtues(i speak for myself)that are peculiar to Africans. If u take Fela's philosophy of life to its logical conclusion, Nigeria would be in a degenerate and a moral quagmire dat is comparable only to d West.
25 April 2017 at 04:46
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