Today In Nigerian History: 18th February

fela

On this day in 1977, a communal compound known as Kalakuta Republic located at 14 Agege Motor Road, Idi- Oro Lagos was burnt to the ground by members of the Nigerian military. ..

The Kalakuta Republic had been Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s residence for almost a decade at the time. During the attack, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Fela’s mother was thrown out of a first floor window. She died eight weeks after. The razing of Kalakuta was a backlash from Fela’s record, Zombie which criticized Nigeria’s military government

This attack was carried out under the tenure of Military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo.

Fela wrote the song: “Coffin for Head of State” to describe how he and his followers carried his mother’s coffin to General Obasanjo at Dodan barracks.