*Police nab
two Felabration participants for alleged robbery
Lagos State
governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, said Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, popularly
known by his first name, Fela, deserved to be celebrated with many monuments
because he made the world sit up and take notice of the energy of Afric
an art
and music.
Speaking at
the unveiling of an effigy to immortalise Fela on his birthday, Ambode
maintained that fela was an enigmatic artiste, who used the platform of his art
to agitate for social and human rights by challenging the government and people
to explore development through social and economic activities that are rooted
in African values.
The
governor, while noting that Fela would have been 80 years next year, said for
his contribution to music, art and entertainment in Lagos, Nigeria and Africa,
the Lagos State government believed he should be immortalised.
According to
Ambode, Fela deserves to be celebrated with many more monuments and different
artistic expressions. “Today, he is still alive in his music and in the music
of Femi, Seun and other artistes who have followed his style of music. Fela
will forever be accorded his position in the Global ‘Hall of Fame’ of artistes.
“The
phenomenon that the world knows as Fela was deeply rooted in the evolution of
Lagos State. The story of music, art, entertainment and tourism in Lagos and
Nigeria cannot be told without an eloquent mention of the ‘Abami eda’.
“On this
day, October 15th, which would have been Fela’s 79th birthday, the government
and people of Lagos State celebrate Fela with the unveiling of this Liberation
Statue,” Ambode said.
For the
governor, though it has been 20 years since he passed on, the memories Fela
left remain evergreen. “Today we celebrate a man who voluntarily turned his
back on a life of comfort and privilege, and took up his saxophone as a weapon
to fight for the liberation of our people from neo-colonialism and bad
governance.”
Ambode said
the Liberation statue unveiled was not an image of Fela but a symbol of Fela’s
philosophy. “This artwork was created as a form of respect and remembrance to
this legend; what he stood for and fought for with his music; his mythology;
struggle for freedom; fight for human dignity; social consciousness; courage
and Pan-Africanism.”
Speaking on
behalf of the Fela Kuti family, Yeni Kuti, thanked Ambode for putting up the
effigy. She disclosed that Fela never liked statue, so Fela would be happy that
a monument put up to celebrate him was an effigy of his costume.
The Special
Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Arts and Culture, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola,
revealed that in the last two years, Ambode has given artists room to express
themselves like never before.
According to
her, Fela is part of the Lagos success story because it was the space he used
to express his thoughts about the dignity and value of Africa.
After
unveiling the effigy, the governor went to the Kalakuta Museum where he was
received by Fela family members, including Femi, Yemi and Seun. Dignitaries at
the unveiling included Femi Falana, Pa Benson Idonije, Jahman Anikulapo, Olu and
Joke Jacobs, among many others.
Meanwhile,
few minutes after they left the annual Felabration at the New African Shrine in
Alausa, Ikeja, the duo of Moshood Olowu and Olasunkanmi Ogundipe along with
their accomplices, who are now at large, allegedly robbed commuters in
different parts of Lagos.
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