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”).

His story is as compelling as the Afrobeat music he invented, and used to preach his messages.

Fela 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.

And that’s why people all over the world recognize him today.

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.

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.

Click here to read the excellent thoughts shared by Jaja King and his Facebook friends on the need for us Nigerians to take pride in speaking our native languages over English.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in an interview I once listened to, said:

“No, no, no, no. English is not expression. Expression is in all other languages all over Nigeria.”

And to prove his point, he asked the interviewer to translate “E ku ile” the common Yoruba greeting to English. The latter could not.

All his life Fela tried to help us embrace our Africanness with pride.

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)

=starts=

UPSIDE DOWN

Open that book dem call dictionary

…..OPEN AM MAKE YOU SEE*** (After every line)

I said, Open that book dem call dictionary

Upside down na there dey proper

Dem recognize the word for sure, yes

Because him get him meaning too

…..HEAD FOR DOWN, YANSH* FOR UP [CHORUS After every line] *(ass)

Because him get him meaning too

Upside down get him meaning too

Upside down get him meaning too

I don* travel, I don see *(do)

Like any professor* for this land *(teacher)

The thing wey I see, I go talk

About upside up, and down-side down

For overseas, where I see:

Communication Organize
….PATA PATA* [CHORUS After every line] *Totally
Agriculture Organize
Electric Organize
Dem system Organize
Dem people Organize
Dem people Organize

Englishman get English name
American man get American name
German man get German name
Russian man get Russian name
Chinese man get Chinese name

For Africa man house, I don’t see
Like any professor for this land
I no have to travel anywhere
Everything der under my nose
For Africa man house, I don’t see

Village boku* road no der (there) *(plenty)[there are not many villages]
Land boku food no der [there isn’t much good food]
Area boku house no der [there are not many city houses]

People no give their African name
People no dey think African style
People no know Africa way
For Africa man house, I don’t see

Communication Disorganize
….PATA PATA* [CHORUS After every line] *(Totally)
Agriculture Disorganize
Electric Disorganize
Everything is Upside Down
Everything is Upside Down
…Disorganize
…Disorganize
Everything Upside Down
Everything Upside Down
…Disorganize
…Disorganize
Everything Upside Down
Everything Upside Down
[REPEAT LAST 4 LINES// Horns enter]

=Ends=

I am a proud student of Fela’s philosophy of Proud African Consciousness: In fact, WE should all be!

The song “Upside Down”was released by Fela in 1976.

I was 6 years old then, and it’s message really resonated with me.

Note what he said about us not bearing African names. Way back then, over half a century ago…

Isn’t it sad that today, we’re even worse off?

We love what is ours even less than was the case in the 70s!

But all hope is not lost

We can individually infuence a reorientation in society, by starting with ourselves.

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.

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.

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.

An example is my new ebook, the first in a series: Ten (10) ‘Storyfied’ Yoruba Proverbs for Children – Tayo Solagbade

I chose this approach to overcome the limitation arising from my work related travels, which forces me to employ unconventional (e.g remote) parenting/coaching strategies to better connect with my kids.

Let each person search him/herself and make needed changes, at least for the sake of our offspring, and our African heritage.