How Fela used to send his PA to buy ice cream, sweet in London – Seun Kuti
Quick Read
In an Instagram video message aimed at enlightening his followers, Kuti emphasized that embracing pan-Africanism does not necessitate enduring hardship.
By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Grammy-nominated singer and the son of the iconic Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has shared a fascinating story about his father’s indulgences.
In an Instagram video message aimed at enlightening his followers, Kuti emphasized that embracing pan-Africanism does not necessitate enduring hardship.
Kuti said, “Anyone that tells you that to be a pan-Africanist is to suffer, is a liar. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, is Fela also a liar? Do you enjoy more than Fela?
He revealed how Fela, despite his staunch pan-Africanist beliefs, didn’t shy away from enjoying life’s pleasures.
For instance, Fela would send his personal assistant to London solely to buy his favorite ice cream and sweets.
This assistant, known as Femi Photo due to his role as Fela’s photographer, would embark on a journey from Lagos to London, returning the next day with the goods.
He recounted, “Fela used to send his PA to London to buy ice cream and his favorite sweet for him. The PA would leave Lagos 10am and arrive in London 3pm.
“He had to go to Bond Street to buy Fela’s favorite sweet. The name of the PA was Femi Bankole Osula but we called him ‘Femi Photo’ because he was also Fela’s photographer”.
“He would arrive in Lagos the next morning with the sweet and ice cream. Does that mean Fela is not a pan-Africanist because he likes to lick ice cream?”
Kuti pointed out that Fela’s love for indulgences didn’t reduce his commitment to African unity.
He revealed also the importance of remaining true to one’s values and heritage without compromising solidarity with fellow Africans, rejecting the idea that pan-Africanism is suffering.
He said, “You must not enjoy the sweet creams of this life, is that your idea of pan-Africanist? ‘I’m not African because I was born in Africa, I’m African because Africa was born in me.’ It means that for those little pressures that you want to get, you must never betray or sabotage your own people. I will never destroy Africa just because I want luxury.”
Comments