Fela Anikulapo Kuti's legend has spread globally, decades after he passed on, because he practised what he preached i.e being a mentally emancipated, proud black African (free from what he termed \"Colonial Mentality\").<\/p>\n
His story is as compelling as the Afrobeat music he invented, and used to preach his messages.
\n
\nFela stood unapologetically, for the rights of the oppressed Nigerian masses, despite suffering repeated physical abuse at the hands of corrupt government regimes that he relentlessy challenged on behalf of the people.<\/i> <\/p>\n
And that's why people all over the world recognize him today.<\/p>\n
If you want people to buy into you, then you need to first SHOW them that YOU are already sold on yourself. That you are the number ONE fan of yourself. Not just by saying, but also - and much more importantly thinking and acting it - ANYWHERE you go, in relating with ANYONE you meet.<\/p>\n
Your choice of name, hair style, food, clothes, language(s) etc that you invest in, will speak loudest to those around you about how well you've bought into yourself, and it will determine how willing others will be, to buy into you.<\/p>\n
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in an interview I once listened to, said:<\/p>\n
\"No, no, no, no. English is not expression. Expression is in all other languages all over Nigeria.\"<\/p>\n
And to prove his point, he asked the interviewer to translate \"E ku ile\" the common Yoruba greeting to English. The latter could not.<\/p>\n
All his life Fela tried to help us embrace our Africanness with pride. <\/p>\n
The Lyrics of his 1976 hit song, \"Upside Down\" reproduced below are very instructive in this regard (Source: http:\/\/becomingpeople.tumblr.com\/post\/19172536132\/lyrics-that-make-sense-upside-down-by-fela-kuti)<\/p>\n
=starts=<\/p>\n
UPSIDE DOWN<\/p>\n
Open that book dem call dictionary<\/p>\n
\u2026..OPEN AM MAKE YOU SEE*** (After every line)<\/p>\n
I said, Open that book dem call dictionary<\/p>\n
Upside down na there dey proper<\/p>\n
Dem recognize the word for sure, yes<\/p>\n
Because him get him meaning too<\/p>\n
\u2026..HEAD FOR DOWN, YANSH* FOR UP [CHORUS After every line] *(ass)<\/p>\n
Because him get him meaning too<\/p>\n
Upside down get him meaning too<\/p>\n
Upside down get him meaning too<\/p>\n
I don* travel, I don see *(do)<\/p>\n
Like any professor* for this land *(teacher)<\/p>\n
The thing wey I see, I go talk<\/p>\n
About upside up, and down-side down<\/p>\n
For overseas, where I see:<\/p>\n
Communication Organize
\n\u2026.PATA PATA* [CHORUS After every line] *Totally
\nAgriculture Organize
\nElectric Organize
\nDem system Organize
\nDem people Organize
\nDem people Organize<\/p>\nEnglishman get English name
\nAmerican man get American name
\nGerman man get German name
\nRussian man get Russian name
\nChinese man get Chinese name<\/p>\nFor Africa man house, I don\u2019t see
\nLike any professor for this land
\nI no have to travel anywhere
\nEverything der under my nose
\nFor Africa man house, I don\u2019t see<\/p>\nVillage boku* road no der (there) *(plenty)[there are not many villages]
\nLand boku food no der [there isn\u2019t much good food]
\nArea boku house no der [there are not many city houses]<\/p>\nPeople no give their African name
\nPeople no dey think African style
\nPeople no know Africa way
\nFor Africa man house, I don\u2019t see<\/p>\nCommunication Disorganize
\n\u2026.PATA PATA* [CHORUS After every line] *(Totally)
\nAgriculture Disorganize
\nElectric Disorganize
\nEverything is Upside Down
\nEverything is Upside Down
\n\u2026Disorganize
\n\u2026Disorganize
\nEverything Upside Down
\nEverything Upside Down
\n\u2026Disorganize
\n\u2026Disorganize
\nEverything Upside Down
\nEverything Upside Down
\n[REPEAT LAST 4 LINES\/\/ Horns enter]<\/p>\n=Ends=\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I am a proud student of Fela's philosophy of Proud African Consciousness: In fact, WE should all be!<\/h3>\n
The song \"Upside Down\"was released by Fela in 1976. <\/p>\n
I was 6 years old then, and it's message really resonated with me.<\/p>\n
Note what he said about us not bearing African names. Way back then, over half a century ago... <\/p>\n
Isn't it sad that today, we're even worse off? <\/p>\n
We love what is ours even less than was the case in the 70s!<\/p>\n
But all hope is not lost<\/h3>\n
We can individually infuence a reorientation in society, by starting with ourselves.<\/p>\n
For instance, in my home, my wife, Nkechi, who hails from Obosi in Anambra state, has always communicated daily with our kids in her native Igbo language. As a result, the kids are gradually speaking it to her, and to themselves.<\/p>\n
I have been trying to do same with the kids (when I'm home), in Yoruba, my native language (which my wife also speaks proficiently). But I have not been able to do it as often as she does. <\/p>\n
To pick up the slack at my end, I've recently begun creating quick start learning resources, based on Yoruba proverbs, which I discuss with kids, and publish for use by others. <\/p>\n