Nigerians in the new world order i.e globalisation have become 'popular' for various reasons;Everyone knows a Nigerian and I met one;in the flesh,sound,ideology,David character and unique image of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.I found it hard to not engage with the read,my imaginations were set forth through humour and vulgar depicted by Fela.However,Moore's attentiveness was explicit,a job well done!None detail was left out.Now I can say I know Fela Kuti.
He was a soul who stood his fort & simply emphasized social reformation and fairness.Although he wasn't sure in the early days of his life,note that Fela always knew he was differnt to everyone in his household thus the reason he fell easily into depression later in his life.His love for woman wasnt a secret,his music was sound designed from reality-the song 'Lady' was the soundtrack to every chapter of Fela's life.
Ironically,the lady(women)he adored so much became entwined with all his miseries and his manhood;I possed a question to why did he marry all 27 of them.Going back to globalisation,as a social scientist,I believe Fela was overwhelmed by it.His loyalty to bein an 'African' wasnt clearly justified by his surroundings,the Nigerian system didnt accomodate any Robin Hoods & Steve Biko's,thus they were shut away or killd 4eva.Fela disregarded all of this and his mother's death created more vulnerablity and loss-this further triggered his ignorance of his illness and the fact that he was distant from what was happening around him.Fela was a great image,I shed a tear in closure of Moore's work but I fear that his life continues unconsciouly in the lives of many of us,true Africans:we are 'shuffering and shmiling.
Review by Rothe Singo (Social Anthropology, MA, University of Western Cape.
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