Fela (middle) and wives
Last weekend, all roads led to Terra Culture, Victoria Island,
Lagos, for the screening of a new musical on late afro beat legend, Fela
Anikulapo Kuti, entitled ‘Fela and The Kalakuta Queens’, a musical
written, produced and directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters of Terra
Culture.
Indeed it was a gathering of the crème de la crème of the industry
as captains of industry, politicians, high networking individuals and
thespians graced the red carpet. And of course, also in the house were
two of Fela’s wives, Bolanle Babayale and Omolara. The pair opened up to
Entertainer on life with the late afro beat maestro, narrating their
lives and times with him.
Fela did not die of HIV – Laide Babayale
What would you say was your happiest moment with Fela?
Every time with him was exciting. Fela was a nice person to be
with. You just loved him. Fela is from a wealthy background and I am
also from a wealthy background but I fell in love with him because Fela
was fighting for others, yet today, people are still suffering. See what
is happening to our people; there is so much poverty. A lot of people
cannot afford three square meals. Our children are running away from the
country everyday to go and meet their untimely deaths. It is so sad.
Twenty years after, are we doing enough to honour the man, Fela and the women who stood by him?
It is only Bolanle Austin Peters that is doing anything to honour
him and his wives. Apart from her, there is no other person doing that.
It is only the children that are doing Felabration and they are just
doing it for their own pocket; it is not for us. Bolanle is honouring
Fela today because she knows and appreciates what Fela stood for. I
don’t know how old she was when Fela was alive, but she is still
celebrating Fela after 20 years, a time when everybody has forgotten
about us. When Bolanle called me and said she wanted to celebrate us, I
was like ‘why, who are we?’ May God bless her soul for remembering the
women that stood and fought with Fela? Since Fela died we have been
completely forgotten. Bolanle really gave us honour.
How did you feel when Fela died in 1997?