8 FACTS (FELA KUTI)

Born on the 15th of October 1938.
His full name is Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti.
Fela was sent to London in 1958 to study medicine but decided to study music instead at the Trinity College of Music.
He formed his own political party called Movement of the People.
In 1979, he put himself forward for President in Nigeria's first elections for more than a decade but his candidature was refused.
Fela made the decision to sing in Pidgin English so that his music could be enjoyed by individuals all over Africa.
Fela set up a nightclub in the Empire Hotel, named the Afro-Spot and then the Afrika Shrine where he performed regularly.
On 3 August 1997, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, already a prominent AIDS activist and former Minister of Helath, stunned the nation by announcing his younger brother's death a day earlier from Kaposi's sarcoma which was brought on by AIDS.


Tolu Falode.