Photo credit: Wikipedia
The closure of the Afrikan Shrine by the Lagos police shows the Nigerian authorities do not cherish peace, nor do they have any iota of respect for the Nigerian constitution.
The shrine was the home base of the iconoclast musician, the late Fela Kuti.
Incidentally, the Kuti family has become noted for its revolutionary activities. Fela’s mother, Funmilayo, was instrumental in banishing an Alake, as the traditional ruler of Abeokuta is called. She was also a leader of the women who protested unjust taxes and a great nationalist.
So was her husband!
Their children, especially Fela and Beeko, also fought against state oppression. Of course, in a society where people are complacent, the Kuti clan suffered terribly for their stance: police raids, imprisonment, destruction of properties and the eventual death of matriarch Funmilayo.
Fela’s children and even grandchildren are effectively taking the struggle in their hands.
Preventing people from gaining access to the shrine is an affront not just to the people involved but also to the constitutional provisions for freedom of assembly, right to association, and more.
Unknown to them, the authorities are indirectly sharpening the teeth of the lion!
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