That festival scared the Western world, and they made sure that it never happened again, and they also made sure that there is no tangible record of it for the contemporary and posterity. This is what Fela knew, and this is what he tried to warn us about. Fela was a member of the board of the FESTAC organizing committee along with famous Nigerian performers like Ogunde and several others, and he, as well as Ogunde, resigned shortly before the festival began on January 15, 1977. There is much speculation about why Fela or Ogunde left, like the article shared said. Fela Kuti was initially part of the FESTAC 77 (held from Jan. 77 to Feb. 77) Planning Committee; however, he clashed with the Chairman (Maj. Gen. I.B. Haruna), who rejected Fela's 9-point program for making FESTAC 77 more meaningful. Following the rejection, Fela announced in July 1976 that he was no longer supporting FESTAC 77, calling it a "huge joke." Nevertheless, the truth is far more sinister. Fela's ni...
Ibiwunmi Felicity Olaiya was born in England to Nigerian parents. She is interested in promoting Africa-Diaspora relations and the experiences of Africans living Abroad. Wunmi is a popular singer and dancer in the UK and United States. Her work with Soul II Soul notably appearing as a dancer in the video for "Back To Life" (1989). Her debut single, "What a See (A Guy Called Gerald Mix)" was released in 1998, and her debut album A.L.A. (Africans Living Abroad) came out on the documented record label in 2006. A music video was shot for the single "Crossover" and posted on YouTube. In 2002, she also collaborated with Bugz in the Attic on the Red Hot Organization's tribute album to Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, appearing on a track titled "Zombie (Part One)." The album, Red Hot and Riot, was released to highly favorable reviews across the world, and all proceeds of the album were donated to AIDS charities. Her journey to Badagry was divine but had...