How Fela’s base was named ‘Kalakuta’ Republic

…Fela’s high regard for women

CITIZENS COMPASS– The name, ‘Kalakuta’ Republic was the name the late musician and political activist, Fela Anikulapo Kuti gave to the communal compound that housed his family, band members, and musical studio.

Located at 14 Agege Motor Road, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos, Nigeria, it has some basic amenities like a free health clinic, and recording facility.

The late musician declared it independent from the state ruled by the military junta after he returned from the United States in 1970.

The compound was later razed on February 18, 1977 after an assault by a thousand armed soldiers.

It was named ‘Kalakuta Republic’ following Fela’s arrest alongside some of his followers.

Though the compound was famous for smoking Indian Hemp, it was a synosure to many youths especially the homeless and those who were attracted by the doings of the late musician.

It was named ‘Kalakuta Republic’ after the daughter of the then Commissioner of Police was missing for months and was thereafter found infront of the shrine.

That was in 1974 when an older brother to the missing girl was passing by Fela’s compound only to discover his younger sister stepping out of the compound after she had been missing for over three months.

A follower of the late Fela disclosed this in a viral video which did not reveal the name of the follower who said the name, ‘Kalakuta Republic’ was not just a name.

According to him, “It is not just a name or miracle, it happened in real life. This was how it started: In 1974, the daughter of a Police commissioner was missing for over two or three months, one day, a guy was passing infront of Fela’s house and saw a lady coming out of the house,and exclaimed, is this not my sister ?

“He went behind the lady and shouted, ‘Folake’!, so this is where you are hiding and mummy and daddy have been looking for you for over four months.

“In the house, we had a standby order that no one should beat a female regardless of her offence: all you could do was to report her to Fela who would judge the matter in his own way.

The law states that even if a female pour hot oil on you, you shouldn’t touch her.

“On that day, when the guy called the girl and she turned to look at who was calling her, the guy discovered she was his sister and started slapping and kicking her. When the males in Fela’s house noticed this, they rushed the boy, beating him beyond comprehension.

“On getting home, his mother took him to the hospital and reported the matter to Fela expecting a grave action.

To her surprise, Fela told her that his house was open to all, especially the homeless ones and he never advertised vacancies to invite people.

“Dissatisfied with Fela’s response, the woman promised to escalate the matter to her husband which she did.

“This happened between Wednesday and Thursday.

On Saturday morning, Police surrounded Fela’s house but did not disturb our activities until about Noon when the girl’s father came with four lorries of Mobile Policemen who asked Fela to open his door but Fela told them he would not open the door unless they produced a search warrant.

“This angered the policemen and they went to the market to buy cutlasses and broke into Fela’s house.

“We were arrested and taken to the Barracks Police station where we were rejected.

They took us to another police station at Lion Building where we were also rejected.

“They now took us to Alagbon where a senior police officer was passing and asked, ‘who are these people’? They responded that, ‘These are those Indian Hemp smokers: Fela people’ and he responded thus: ‘Put all of them in Kalakuta Cell and that was how we brought the name, Kalakuta Republic.”