Fela Kuti life and times: Brave, inspiring, crazy - Manager tok about King of Afrobeat - BBC News Pidgin (2024)

At least million of pipo wey dey cry bin turn up for di funeral of Nigerian musician and voice of di pipo wey dey oppressed, Fela Kuti, im manager Rikki Stein rememba.

“Di road dey filled wit pipo as far as di eye fit see,” e tok as e look back to dat August day for Lagos for 1997.

Di King of Afrobeat dey admired by di pipo but dose wey bin dey in charge fear am. E die at 58, sake of complications from Aids.

But Stein believe say Fela, wey dem repeatedly arrest for speaking out against successive military regimes, actually pass away becos of a much deeper cause.

“Fela die of one beating wey too many. Im body dey covered in scars and im mind and spirit gatz cope wit 200 arrests. Di system fit only take so much,” Stein tell di BBC for interview to mark di publication of im memoir – in part about di 15 years of managing one of Nigeria most influential musicians.

Throughout im long career Fela bin criticise dose wey dey in charge, notably a succession of military rulers, abusing dem in albums such as Coffin for Head of State.

Fela music get di power to grab pipo from di inside and help dem start to imagine anoda world.

“I dey surprised,” Stein, now 81, tok as e yarn about wen im first come across Fela albums for di 1970s.

“Di music speak to me in a way I neva encounter, e dey warm, intimate, excitement and a constant feeling of anticipation. Evri word dey speak directly to my inner being, as e dey describe life under a totalitarian regime, but I see clearly how di message fit apply to any kontri.”

E no dey surprising say to manage someone wit such charisma and vision come wit wetin you no fit predict and e dey stressful.

Dia first encounter for one hotel room for London for 1982, wen Stein dey hope to beg Fela to take part for one music festival, na wetin begin wetin go come afta.

“As I enter, one wave of intense heat bin hit me.

“Na winter and extremely cold. I dey wear one hat, coat, scarf and sweater. Fela, I learn say e dey always carry additional heaters wen e dey on tour to fit control temperature to wetin im dey used to.

“Fela dey sit on a couch, dress in just one pair of Speedos [swimming trunks]. We shake hands and e invite me to join am ontop di couch.

“I tok on di heat and begin dey remove some layers of clothing, although I no get down to my Speedos. Suddenly we both begin dey laugh, na wetin begin a friendship wey endure for di rest of im life.”

Later dat year Stein travel to Lagos to discuss how to become Fela co-manager. Very early on, im get a sense of how much influence e get for im home kontri.

Stein dey stucked for passport control while dose wey dey in charge dey behind some glass, and dem dey check di documents.

“Suddenly one kasala bin happun for di baggage hall. Na Fela Kuti dey climb ova di seats and heading towards us as e dey shout ‘Rikki!’. Wen im reach me, e give me hug.

“’Wetin you dey do, dey stand for dia?’

"I point to di smoked-glass window. E walk ova and click im fingers above di glass. Di passport appear. ‘C’mon Rikki, make we dey go’.

“Na Fela drive us off. Im be great driver but, man, e dey drive fast, much as im dey live im life.”

Ova di years, despite di strength, Stein no get taya to dey experience Fela perform for stage.

“Fela bin reign supreme.

“E dey evriwia at once; playing keyboards, soprano or alto sax, di occasional drum solo, a sinuous dance from one side of di stage to di oda and den e go be time to sing, di ever-present cigarette dey im fine fingers.

“Sake of say im be master wit confidence, style and guts, nobody fit beat dis guy.”

Im performances no be just concerts, dem be events. One wey dey odd na show for Belsize Park, north London, wey involve to imitate death and a surprise resurrection (to wake).

For 1984 Fela dey appear on stage wit im mysterious guru, a Ghanaian man wey dey known as Professor Hindu.

On di morning of di London show, Stein get a call from di publicist wey dey di venue.

“’Di Professor dey here, e dey dig a grave just outside.’ I bin call Fela, to ask am if im know why. ‘E no dey ask me why I play saxophone and I no dey ask am why e dey dig graves.’

“Dat night di Professor appear on stage for one short skirt, a bib and di lampshade. Im assistant, Emmanuel, join am and sidon for one chair.

“Di prof begin dey sharpen one huge meat cleaver for stone, den im grab Emmanuel and begin dey cut away at di throat. Blood flow for evri direction. Kasala burst for di club. dem carry Emmanuel wey no fit walk well outside and place am for di grave.

“Come Sunday large crowd gada around di grave. Suddenly, di floor begin dey move and one hand bin appear! I pull Emmanuel out. Im hands dey warm.”

Dat year na also wen di authorities for Nigeria bin get too much of Fela boldness.

Fela and di band return to Lagos for break bifor going on US tour. Stein bin give am large amount of cash to cover food and hotel bills.

As e arrive for di kontri, di security officials make am say Fela bin fail to declare di money, wey im go need at dat time.

Dem detain am and den e appear bifor one military tribunal wey sentence am to five years in prison.

Stein believe say dis no be about di money. Di military see am as stubborn pesin for dia side and dem wan silence am.

But e get di opposite effect. Im arrest bin cause public anger for di world, Amnesty International bin declare am prisoner of conscience and im music become more widely known and radio stations dey play im work for di day.

One new album – Army Arrangement - don dey recorded bifor Fela go prison and Stein dey hope to release am.

Short of cash, im accept deal say di tracks go dey remixed wit reggae drum and bass to make am more appealing commercially.

“Someone bin smuggle one copy to Fela wey dey ashamed, and tok say to hear am dey worse dan to dey jail,” Stein tok. We no release di remix.

Looking back at dia time togeda, Stein feel say e dey odd and unpredictable, and yet Fela inspire am wit im energy, bravery and im philosophy about life.

“Pipo dey say to me: ‘Wow, e no fit dey easy to manage Fela.’ I go explain say I neva get any difficulty wit am becos say we be friends. You fit say anytin to real friend, so we neva get problem.”

But for 1997 Fela become very sick.

Wen Stein bin learn say im friend don die, e immediately board plane to Lagos to join di pipo wey dey cry.

“On 11 August 1997 dem lay Fela for Tafawa Balewa Square.

“Di family arrive at di morgue to collect im body. I bin bring my electric razor and attempt to shave am and comb im hair. One big cigaratte dey for im right hand and dem place am for glass coffin and put am inside motor wey dey carry deadi bodi.

“Dem lay am to rest for front of im house Kalakuta, for Ikeja on 12 August.

“Im son, Femi, play sad sax solo. Na gentle rain bin fall like perfume. During dose days no crime take place for Lagos.”

Moving Music: The Memoirs of Rikki Stein dey published by Wordville Press