Lifestyle, Music

Checking out the life and times of Fela Anikulapo Kuti at Kalakuta

Its no news that last week was the 20th anniversary memorial of the Afrobeat legend and a couple of you guys attended the Felabration event at the New Africa Shrine. I was there on day 4 and blogged about my experience here. However, I did a little digging and decided to check out relics of the life and time of Fela Anikulapo (“He who carries death in his pockets“) Kuti at the kalakuta Museum.

Anuoluwapo Eunice

After surviving the hellish traffic from the Island to the mainland, I got to the third and last kalakuta which Fela stayed until his death in 1997 only to be told that the museum was closed for renovation. I had come all the way and just couldn’t leave without a load of pictures and some depth.

Kalakuta Museum

Kalakuta Museum

I spoke to the manager who also happened to be the lead curator of the kalakuta museum and I got in šŸ˜‰ . He gave an excellent narrative of Fela, his uncompromising attitude towards corruption, the depth and meaning of his songs. How he was prosecuted by the then military government, the death of his mum after being thrown down from from a storey building, circumstances that led to his move from the first Kalakuta at Ojuelegba, the second at Ikeja and finally to the current one located at 7 Gbemisola Street Allen Avenue, Ikeja where I stood in awe of the Abami Eda (The mysterious one). The name Kalakuta was derived from a cell in which he was locked during the Military era.

Kalakuta Museum

Fela is popularly known to have been a womanizer, however I was told in concise terms that Fela never went chasing after women but the other way around. Pictures of his 27 wives at their wedding, those of his children, mother and other relations were placed in strategic places in the building. Fela also had a lot of albums and a few of the covers are placed hanging one the ground floor.

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Fela was the pioneer of the Afrobeat genre of music but I was made to understand that he had started out his music career as a Jazz singer but was later influenced by Sandra a member of a group called the Panther Movement who had invited him for a concert in London. Sandra pictured below had expressed disappointment in him after he played jazz, told him of how he ought to be portraying the sufferings of his people back home via his music. This lady was the turning point in Fela’s music career and pretty much shaped him into the legend he is.

Kalakuta Museum

Fela was a multi-instrumentalist and few of his instruments are up for display in the museum. The famous drums which he used to create the record “Beast of no Nation” also stands over 6ft tall in one of the show rooms.

Kalakuta Museum

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Fela’s room located on the first floor was next up, it houses his personal possessions just the way he left it before his death. He had a sweet tooth and kept chocolates, sweet and other edibles which he never shared in the freezer. I also saw the strong bed which had definitely seen different bouts of sex with about 27 wives šŸ˜› .

Kalakuta Museum

Next door is a collection of his shoes and you can definitely tell he was totally fashion forward as I’d still rock these shoes today if they were in good condition.

Fela Shoes at the Kalakuta Museum

Fela was also known to wear just pants sometimes as apparel and a few of these were also on display together with his robe and other personal items.

Fela Pants at the Kalakuta Museum

Fela Clothes at Kalakuta Museum

Fela being a human right activist and presidential aspirant was quite popular and graced the pages of the papers during his time clippings of which were also on display.

Kalakuta Museum

Kalakuta Museum

Further up is a terrace where drinks and peppered meats are being sold to visitors and although there are signs saying Smoking of Indian Hemp was not allowed, this was not strictly enforced.

Terrace of the Kalakuta Museum

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The ground floor of the Kalakuta museum has a souvenir shop with tee shirts, mugs and other Fela inspired gift items and certain painting inscription of popular lyrics in his songs.

Souvernir shop at Kalakuta Museum

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Lest I forget, there are also newly renovated rooms available for lodging if you are interested in spending a night at the museum.

Lodging at the Kalakuta Museum

Lodging at Kalakuta Museum

So guys, if you are a Fela fan, lover of arts and history or you just want a chilled evening with a drag. I’d totally recommend Kalakuta Museum.

Kalakuta Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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13 Comments

  • Reply Osilama October 19, 2017 at 10:06 am

    Your ability to describe events and places in simple terms is unparalleled. Your style of writing is unique
    and so so relatable. I always look forward to reading your stories. Kudos!

    • AE
      Reply AE October 19, 2017 at 10:21 am

      Thanks so much dear. Words like this keep me pushing šŸ˜€

    • Reply Ola-Yusuf January 1, 2018 at 10:32 pm

      Thanks AE for doing this , quite inspiring!

  • Reply Fyzil October 19, 2017 at 11:56 am

    Awesome literature! Your post just gave me the incentive to go kayaking. ?

    • AE
      Reply AE October 19, 2017 at 2:17 pm

      Thanks Fyzil! You definitely should.

  • Reply Victor October 24, 2017 at 10:21 pm

    Thank you for taking us along. I feel like I know the place already.

    • AE
      Reply AE November 26, 2017 at 7:22 pm

      You are welcome Victor, anytime šŸ˜€

  • Reply john March 18, 2018 at 10:42 pm

    Nice piece.
    Well done.!

    • AE
      Reply AE March 19, 2018 at 12:41 am

      Thanks for reading John

  • Reply BD March 21, 2018 at 11:39 pm

    Lovely ?! Good to know ??
    Weldone sis

    • AE
      Reply AE March 22, 2018 at 9:12 pm

      Thanks BD.

  • Reply Loth Ordy July 3, 2019 at 1:23 pm

    You have this special way to drag people into your stories, and the literature just took me back in the days like , next time I come to Nigeria I will definitely visit this museum. Looking forward to more contents on your Blog. Keep up Anu

    • AE
      Reply AE July 4, 2019 at 12:51 am

      I am blushing right now. Thanks for reading Loth.

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