Page 42 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 13

MY AFRIKA
Art & Culture

don to study medicine. So talented to 20 months with over 350 court minds from the half-truths and lies
was he that he dropped out of the appearances. Even though this came that were taught in school during
musical art college and was quickly at a great personal cost for him and history classes and those written in
making an impactful presence in his family, he never lost enthusi- books.
London. asm in laying the truth bare to his Some of my favorite tracks from
This is a call to parents and guard- audience. Fela Kuti’s collection go by the
ians that they should encourage names ‘Gentleman’ and ‘Yellow
their children to pursue whatever Taking nothing away from him, this Fever.’ Both of these tracks speak
passion their talent compels them is not a call to anyone to break Fela’s about cultural identity. As for ‘Gen-
to. We are living in a different time, record in arrests and court appear- tleman’ he sarcastically describes
where not everybody can become ances, but a call to seek courage in how men have adopted European
lawyers, doctors, pilots, engineers or standing up for what is true, how- suits and ties to make them feel
politicians and so on and so forth. ever uncomfortable it may be, for good about themselves. On the
The world needs entertainers and your legacy depends on it. Felabra- other hand, he uses ‘Yellow Fever’
the likes too, as much as it needs the tion is an annual musical festival as an expression to describe and
rest. Entertainers are still consid- conceived in 1998 by Yeni Kuti in decry the fashion among Nigerian
ered professionals just like others. celebration of her father Fela Kuti, women for skin whitening creams.
While education is important, kindly and his timeless music that has He strongly felt that skin whitening
empower your children to follow inspired many music artists in the is an example of the post-colonial,
their gut, just like Fela did. Some- world that includes: Wycliffe Jean, cultural inferiority-complex that is
times high risk may translate to high Wizkid, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Alicia Keys holding back the country’s develop-
rewards. In any case, Afrikans are and Burna Boy. Today, Burna Boy’s ment. From these performances, it
hands down the majority of highly musical journey is skyrocketing be- is appropriate to deduce that Fela
skilled and talented entertainers do- cause his grandfather, who was once Kuti was akin to his cultural iden-
ing pretty well in the global arena. Fela Kuti’s manager, passed valuable tity and roots. He knew better than
lessons that would make Burna Boy most at the time that Afrikan culture
2. Use your talent or platform to thrive in this business. As a matter is the richest in the world, and every
revolutionize your legacy of fact, Burna Boy, who is popularly Afrikan should boast of a heritage
I resolutely stand by the fact that it known as the Afrikan Giant because of royalty without adding or sub-
is the sole responsibility of every through his unique music genre of tracting anything.
musical artist, doctor, scientist, Afro fusion, addresses the worldly
engineer, poet, writer and many lies and racial oppression meted Sinmi ni agbara Fela Kuti!
more to use their God-given talents upon Afrikans. He was also at the
in making Afrika a better place that forefront of the EndSARS move- The author is a mentor, trainer and writer bear-
matches what our forefathers and ment that condemned the brutality ing adequate experiences in business development
ourselves envision for generations to enforced on its citizens by the Spe- and brand management success.
come. It is not a matter of lost caus- cial Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in
es. Millions of people around the Nigeria. In my experience, I would LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/robertmmwangi
world are watching. You may never flat out refer to Fela Kuti’s inspira-
know who you are speaking to. tion as mentorship.
Fela Kuti, just like any normal
human being, was not perfect, and 3. Find out and learn about your
he had his own flaws. However, he roots
endured mountains of physical and Fela Kuti took almost a year in Los
emotional abuses all for what? So Angeles to learn extensively about
that you, me and every other Afri- his roots, eventually adding meaning
kan would appreciate his heritage to his music. There cannot be any
and progressively work on making meaningful conversation in your
the Afrikan continent a respected life if you do not understand where
powerhouse of diversified poten- your Afrikan heritage began and
tials. Fela was arrested on over 200 where it lies at the moment. On
different occasions. He had the this I have to be plain, that Afrikans
longest most unfair jail terms of up need to unlearn and decolonize their

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