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PHOTOS: How Soldiers, Under Ex-Head Of State Obasanjo, Assaulted Fela’s Kalakuta Republic In 1977: A Comprehensive Overview.
The Kalakuta Republic Chronicles: The Bold Stand of Fela Kuti Against Nigeria’s Militarized Governance....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Fela
Situated at No. 6 Agege Motor Rd., Moshalashi, Lagos, the illustrious Kalakuta Republic served as a testament to the indomitable spirit of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, an iconic musician and fierce activist. This wasn’t merely a home; it was an emblematic complex that housed Fela’s dynamic recording studio, an electrifying nightclub, and a proficient medical facility overseen by Fela’s sibling, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti. This enclave also offered refuge to Fela’s extensive family and the members of his vibrant band. CONTINUE READING
READ ALSO: THE STORY OF HOW FELA KUTI WAS DEPORTED FROM GHANA in 1978. – BushRadio (bushradiogist.com)
The moniker ‘Kalakuta’ was whimsically derived from the Calcutta prison in India. This was the very facility where Fela found himself incarcerated in 1974, purportedly for marijuana possession, a conviction many believed was laced with political undertones. Demonstrating his profound repugnance for what he perceived as a duplicitous military regime, Fela declared Kalakuta as an autonomous entity within Nigeria’s boundaries.
This audacious move, however, was a thorn in the side of the military echelons.
The scenario took a sharper turn when Fela unveiled ‘Zombie‘, a track imbued with scathing satire directed squarely at the Nigerian military personnel. With verses like, “Zombie no go walk unless you tell am to walk“, Fela drew a caustic parallel between the soldiers and unthinking automatons. This song, achieving nationwide resonance, unmistakably irked the military administration led by Olusegun Obasanjo. CONTINUE READING
A pivotal confrontation erupted on February 18th, 1977. An altercation over vehicular regulation between members of Fela’s camp and military officials spiraled, leading to the besiegement of Kalakuta Republic. What followed was a systematic military rampage: extensive property damage, grievous bodily harm, and unconscionable human rights transgressions. Amidst this chaos, Fela’s mother, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was grievously injured, an ordeal she tragically wouldn’t recover from.
Fela Kuti explaining a point to Mr. Justice Anya after the Kalakuta raid
Determined to secure justice, the Kutis embarked on a legal journey, claiming a whopping N25 Million in reparations. Their legal counsel, the astute Mr. Tunji Braithwaite, mounted a commendable defense but was met with an insidious twist: the aggressors were designated as “unknown soldiers”, leading to the dismissal of the lawsuit. CONTINUE READING
In a deeply symbolic gesture of protest and mourning for his late mother, Fela orchestrated a defiant act, presenting a coffin at the gates of Dodan military barracks. This act was immortalized in his evocative song, ‘Coffin for Head of State’ in 1980, where he recounted the harrowing events and his profound grief.
Fela and his mom
In a turn of irony, where once the Kalakuta Republic stood as a beacon of resistance, now stands an educational institution, the Ransome-Kuti Memorial Grammar School, an ode to the original family name of the indomitable Kutis.
More photos below;
Source: Bushradiogist
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