The year 1900 saw the birth of the most badass feminist in Nigerian history. She was known by many names. Some called her Mother of Africa, others called her the Lioness of Lisabi. However, she was officially known as Funmilayo Ransome Kuti.
She was married to the great educator and fiery clergyman, Israel Oludotun Ransome Kuti, and gave birth to some of the greatest men that walked the Nigerian earth. She was the mother of Aunty Dolu, Prof. Olikoye, Fela and Dr. Beko.
She did many great things in her life, most famous of them was being the first woman to look at a car, grab the keys, got in and drove it, paving way for other women to drive cars.
In her early 20’s, she organized literacy classes for market women. That was just the beginning, as she also went ahead to fight for the right of women to vote. In addition, she fought the local Egba authorities and even the colonial masters on behalf of the women folk to stop the arbitrary taxes demanded of them.
When she couldn’t take the high handedness of the Egba Monarch anymore, she led a multitude of women in red-eyed protest to the king’s palace.
Guess what? The Oba japa…he took off! He couldn’t stand the feisty amazon and her horde.
On the international scene, she traveled far and wide, especially to the Eastern bloc, where she rolled with the likes of Chairman Mao Zedung. Consequently, she became a thorn in the flesh of the West.
Just imagine what her home was like because her husband was the famous no-nonsense school principal and preacher. Many a great mind were shaped under his pedagogical guidance and corporal discipline. His cane expelled the haughtiness of a young prince that later became the Ooni of Ife. He was also among other things a great activist and one of the founders of the National Union of Teachers (N.U.T).
Funmilayo founded a nursery school, where her kids and others were first schooled before proceeding to secondary school. She believed and pushed for gender equality, which made her do everything to empower women, educationally, financially and politically.
All her children grew up to become accomplished professionals with enviable ideals.
Of particular interest to this write up was one of her sons, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Fela was an enigma. He was larger than life.
Just like his mama, he was also an activist, who used music as a weapon in attacking the despotic government of his days.
Fela also loved women unashamedly…and they loved him too. At a point, he married 27 women in a single ceremony.
His women spoke highly of him as a fantastic lover. They said he treated them well and even extolled his patience with them and also his sexual prowess. Fela was reputed to be a man who had sex with several women, several times a day.
It is worthy to note that Fela first wife whom he married legally never divorced him…never remarried and never spoke ill of him despite his harem. What a man Fela must have been!
Despite being the beloved son of a badass feminist, and lover of many women, Fela voiced his views about the African woman, just like he voiced his views about bad governance and Pan-Africanism. He sure did not believe in total gender equality.
Fela released the popular song “LADY” in 1972.
Here is an excerpt of the lyrics:
"...She go say him equal to man
She go say him get power like man
She go say anything man do himself fit do…
She go want take cigar before anybody
She go want make you open door for am
She go want make man wash plate
For am, for kitchen….
African woman go dance
She go dance the fire dance
African woman go dance
She go dance the fire dance
She know him man na master
She go cook for am
She go do anything he say..."
In 1978, when Fela’s Kalakuta Republic was invaded by “unknown soldiers”, his great mother, Funmilayo was with him and she was thrown out the window. She died months later in a coma resulting from the injuries of the defenestration that she suffered.
This mother loved her son, despite some differences in their views. And Fela mourned his mother in both words and songs until the end of his life.
Question: How will today’s feminists react, were they to have sons like Fela?
Kunle Omope
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