“Mr. Babatunde Harrison, former Punch newspapers correspondent made to know Fela. And I recall that my mother who was a religious person herself, blessed my visit to the musician’s abode.

Mr. Babatunde Harrison told me Fela wanted an art cover for his new album, and I did something for him to see. The journalist quickly came and wisked me to Fela’s house. We actually need to cross the railway line, this event happened in 1974.

When we entered the house, I was a bit afraid. The musician’s house was a commune and full of community to behold. The journalist, a regular there, only made some enquiries and asked me to sit around a corner in the building. I saw girls, ladies, women of all shapes and sizes. Men and guys everywhere too. Suddenly, I saw one of my neighborhood girls in the compound. I opened my mouth agape! She was also shocked to see. The girl actually ran away from home to join the commune. I was 19 years old.
“What are you doing here?” not showing any sign of fear and feeling safe. She asked and I explained who brought me here. I showed her the work that brought me in, she looked at the artwork, smiles on her face and promised to get Fela out to see me and immediately, she disappeared upstairs. I marveled at her courage to bring Fela out for me. It then occurred to me that it seems women are more powerful than the men in the musician’s commune.

Not up to five minutes, Fela was downstairs with my neighbourhood mate in his brief almost pulling off his waist. He stared on the artwork, smiled and reacted by saying ‘gaddemnit’ ‘a phrase I would be hearing for the first time in my life. Fela ushered me upstairs to write a cheque, but I rejected it. He looked at me and asked why? I told me I just wanted to do it for him. And he brought out a note pad, wrote and signed on it for a free access to him and his shows. That’s how I became Fela’s youngest best friend aged 19. ”

Words /Ireho Aito

Images courtesy of Lemi Ghariokwu