Once upon a time, there lived a great musical legend named Fela Anikulapo- Kuti whose mane remain in history forever due to his height of popularity. He was often hailed as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers."
In this retro series, NAIJ.com looks back at the unforgettable day February 20, 1978, Fela Kuti got married to 27 wives.
According to reports from the Kuti's, the day came to reality after Fela put out a note asking his backup dancers/singers to write out their names if they were willing to marry him, instantly 27 of them put down their names in excitement.
Fela Kuti and his 27 wives: Photo credit: Wikipedia
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The beautiful wedding which was ordained by 12 Ifa priests held at the Parisona Hotel in Anthony, Lagos had band members, friends and families in attendance. Although some of the wives had none of their family members in attendance.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti performing marital rites
Below is a list of all 23 out of the 27 women;
1. Fehintola Kayode (Seun’s Mum)
2. Damiregba (Naijite, Motun’s Mum)
3. Keuwe Oghomienor (Kewe)
4. Folake Oladeinde (Alake)
5. Folake Oladejo
6. Ronke Edason
7. Laide
8. Emaruagheru Osawe
9. Ihase
10. Shade Shodeinde
11. Suru Eriomola
12. Tejumade Adebiyi
13. Omolola Osaeti
14. Tokunbo Akran
15. Ronke (another one)
16. Adejonwo
17. Lamiley
18. Funmilayo
19. Adunni
20. Remilekun
21. Kikelomo
22. Lara
23. Bose
READ ALSO: Talented Nigerian barber creates Fela's face on client's hair
Fela Kuti and his beautiful wives
Further reports claim Fela placed naira notes on their heads, offered a few words and dished around marriage certificates to them after which he had fun with all same day before they went to Ghana for honeymoon.
Sadly on 3 August, 1997, Fela's death was announced by his younger brother who was the then minister of health and prominent AIDS activist saying that his brother died from complications related to AIDS.
However, there has been no definitive proof that Kuti died from complications related to HIV/AIDS, and much skepticism surrounds this alleged cause of death and the sources that have popularized this claim.
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Fela Kuti was honored with a lying-in-state in which his remains were encased in a five-sided pyramid-shaped glass coffin for full public viewing. More than one million people attended Fela's funeral at the site of the old Shrine compound. The New Afrika Shrine has opened since Fela's death in a different section of Lagos under the supervision of his son Femi Kuti.
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Source: Naija.ng