On this day, August 3, 1997, Nigeria and the global music community lost a trailblazing icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, whose pioneering work in Afrobeats continues to resonate 28 years later. The Afrobeat legend, known for blending traditional Yoruba rhythms with jazz and funk, passed away at 58 in Lagos after a battle with Kaposi’s sarcoma, linked to AIDS-related complications. Fela, who released over 50 albums including classics like “Zombie” and “Water No Get Enemy,” used his music as a fearless critique of corruption and oppression, spending decades challenging military regimes and spending time in prison for his activism, leaving an indelible mark on African culture.
His death at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital marked the end of a tumultuous life, but his legacy endures through artists like Burna Boy and Wizkid, who cite him as an inspiration, and the annual Felabration festival in Lagos, which keeps his spirit alive. Fela’s Kalakuta Republic, once a hub of creativity and resistance, remains a pilgrimage site, while his sons, Femi and Seun Kuti, carry forward his musical and social justice legacy with their bands. As tributes pour in on social media, his call for freedom and human rights continues to echo, cementing his status as a global cultural titan.
