{"id":2516,"date":"2017-11-17T05:18:44","date_gmt":"2017-11-17T05:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nigerianews.ca\/?p=2516"},"modified":"2017-11-17T05:23:26","modified_gmt":"2017-11-17T05:23:26","slug":"3-embarrassing-moments-fela-kuti-could-sing-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nigerianews.ca\/3-embarrassing-moments-fela-kuti-could-sing-about\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Embarrassing Moments Fela Kuti Could Sing About"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Have you ever had a moment so embarrassing you wish could travel back in time?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Or maybe made a mistake so cringe-worthy you wish you could disappear?<\/h3>\n

For Nigeria<\/a>\u2018s officials, those moments are becoming more common, and in the age of video sharing on social media, it is near impossible for people to forget. \u00a0But before there was Youtube<\/em>, there were musicians mobilizing the masses and challenging the government to do better. In Africa, no artist was better at voicing political mishaps, corruption and plain-old-wrongdoing like Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.<\/p>\n

You could say he was a pioneer of the \u2018diss track\u2019 but his motive was to boost African consciousness.\u00a0In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the founder of Afrobeat music was more vocal about government corruption. Heavily inspired by the Black Panther movement and the activism of his late mother, Funmilayo, he put his views to music and recorded songs like \u201cZombie\u201d and \u201cSuffering and Smiling.\u201d<\/p>\n

In honor of Fela Kuti\u2019s 75th birthday, we \u00a0remember his knack for social commentary and look at three moments\u00a0(and one person) that we wish Fela was alive to sing about today:<\/p>\n

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\"Nigerian<\/p>\n

Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. Photo Credit: Billboard.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

3. The\u00a0Grammarticalogylisationalism of \u00a0Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon<\/h2>\n

If there is a practice politicians are well-known for it\u2019s talking, and Nigeria\u2019s Patrick Obahiagbon, is one government official with a passion for public speaking. The former Edo State representative is most famously known for his robust vocabulary and using lengthy verbiage to communicate even the most simple of ideas. Videos of Obahiagbon are posted on Youtube<\/em> and many wait for opportunities to hear him speak. But with all the \u2018verbose speech\u2019 and \u2018verbal labyrinths\u2019 distracting listeners, the message tends to get lost.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/OF0Re7gJBb8<\/p>\n

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It may be safe to say the recently promoted official is an embodiment of Fela\u2019s song, \u201cMr. Grammarticalogylisationalism Is the Boss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hi<\/em>m talk oyinbo pass English man!<\/em><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0#OccupyNigeria<\/h2>\n

In January 2012, a decision to remove fuel subsidies sparked mass protest across Nigeria. The decision, made by Goodluck Jonathan, also inspired solidarity protests by Nigerians living in the diaspora. The protests brought attention to years of frustration and disconnect between the Nigerian people and the government. Years later, it\u2019s the same issues Fela spoke of in his music as well as interviews. This video, taken at New York a town hall meeting for \u2018Occupy Nigeria,\u2019 captures activist and Sahara Reporters<\/em> founder Omoyele Sowore as he voices his frustration with the country\u2019s government officials. Sowore calls out a Nigerian minister who walked into the meeting an hour and half late. The embarrassed minister attempts to quiet him, but she is unsuccessful.<\/p>\n

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