Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has revealed that he attended the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s shrine in Lagos in the 1980s alongside the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
AbdulRazaq disclosed this on Monday while declaring open an exhibition celebrating Fela’s life, music and influence at the Institute of Contemporary African Art and Film in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Recalling their visits to the shrine, the governor said he and Ribadu, alongside other friends, including some who were in the military at the time, admired Fela’s intelligence, music and political ideas.
“In the late 1980s, I used to go to the shrine with several notable people now, including the present NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, as well as our friends who were in the military then,” he said.
AbdulRazaq said his interest in Fela went beyond entertainment, noting that he admired the musician’s advocacy for African identity and the black race.
He recalled that the visits coincided with the period of Fela’s Zombie album, which became one of the musician’s most prominent works of political criticism.
The governor described Fela as more than a musician, saying his work challenged established conventions and raised questions about power, freedom, identity and justice.
He said the exhibition, organised by June Creative Art Advisory, would help younger generations understand Fela’s contribution to Nigerian music, political consciousness and cultural history.
AbdulRazaq also used the occasion to stress the importance of cultural development, arguing that investment in the arts and heritage should receive attention alongside roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure.
“While physical infrastructure connects places, cultural infrastructure connects people to their history, broadens their imagination and encourages critical thinking,” he said.
He explained that the Institute of Contemporary African Art and Film was established to preserve African stories, nurture creative talent and promote the continent’s artists and thinkers.
The governor said the state was not seeking to claim ownership of Fela’s legacy but wanted to provide a platform for people, particularly young Nigerians, to learn from his life and work.
He expressed hope that the exhibition would encourage sustained cultural activities at the institute and inspire young people to explore their creativity and contribute to society.
The state Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, said the exhibition offered an opportunity to revisit Fela’s works and examine their continuing influence on successive generations.
Olukoju said the state government was also investing in opportunities for young people through the creative and technology sectors.
She cited the Sugar Film Factory, Garment Factory and Ilorin Innovation Hub as projects reflecting the administration’s commitment to developing talent and supporting enterprise.
The commissioner urged young people interested in painting, photography, filmmaking, fashion and design to use the institute to develop their skills and showcase their work.
Discussion0