Fela Anikulapo-Kuti remains: simply himself in death as he was alive. Truth be told, he’s the motherland’s Elvis Presley or, probably Micheal Jackson in a conclusive “ghostly-magnetism”, essential draw-power and in his evergreen musical status. He’s the magnificent musical gradient every Nigerian, or perhaps most African artistes aspire to keep locked onto. It’s a commercial shame Fela was Nigerian! Quite regrettable if his entire musical anthology- aren’t well documented, properly chronicled and his appropriate financial dues from all corners rightfully accorded his estate or living heirs. In the right clime, the appropriately-tagged “ABAMI-EDA” easily would or could’ve been a steady Multimillion-dollar entertainer: dead or alive!
All that said, it needs to be said also that- Fela Anikulapo failed me woefully in his few attempts at being an “attentive” lover- at least on vinyl! His star-power probably eclipsed the then unrealized female “Mammy-market.” I seriously doubt if a large chunk of women bought his records in those days! His “Ololufe Mi” track- a byproduct of a lengthy session in the eponymously tagged “LA Sessions ’69” album- as the tracks were laid and recorded in Los Angeles. The track, in my mind saw “Fela trying too hard to explore the outer-space romantic scene”. But who could ever blame a superstar used to snapping his fingers at ready females whenever he’s horny, or when he felt due for a quick lay? The Weird-Fellow had it like that! The track is too damn good for the regular chick, it was probably dedicated to the super-psychedelic Opekes! It’s a track entirely reminiscent of a time in or about 1962, when Jet Screamer went on a date with Judy Jetson. And that’s up to you to find out on your own (if you ever watch the cartoon TV show-The Jetsons). That episode first aired on Sept, 30 1962. If you are lucky, you could catch a rerun on Cable or on TV.
His “Na Poi” track was also a tag-along the Blaxploitation cinematic genre footmark. We can’t truly call that a dedicated a love song. The damn bastard was just warming into his star power then. The Abami dude was feeling his own quality. He was pushing the damn envelope! He simulated the shagging of a woman on record! He took it a step further by embarrassing his willing groupie. He “rubbed” Vaseline around her private part, to provide a synthetic “wetness” for easy penetration. We all are wiser now that a “dry” woman is truly oftentimes- a “feelingless” one. But he somehow figure that the slightest thought of censoring the album was in itself; free promotion- a damn smart marketing strategy! Notoriety, surely is good business. He was obviously in a bet with his own damn self to outdo his own uncanny sense of creativity! A edgier Mario Van Peebles on record! I love that craziness! But that’s not romantic in anyway!
Wakalole- or “Come Go Home With Me” by Orlando Julius, a less physically appealing, workaholic, but relatively unsung musician (compared to Fela) is my standard romantic song! It is mine I said! I am not forcing the issue! I am not begging you to like it! But I am kinda old-school! I love to give chase. I love to make sweet promises. I am sensitive. I love to pamper. I love to take it all in slow-motion. I love to love in free-fall zones. I am generous- in kind, and definitely indeed! I am quite a “Mamas-boy” till I taste the pudding to reveal my true self-a a “Man’s-Man”. I am not a “Screamer” but a Whisperer! I am just the prototypical standup dude for chivalry!
I am Orlando Ekemode Julius! Fela was the Freedom-Fighter! I am the Old-School Loverman! He’s more acclaimed. Yet I made an “Ololufe Mi” track like he did. But my Wakalole knocked the ball out of the ballpark! Listen to it; give me a piece of your mind! Tell me I didn’t kill that particular game!
***Wakalole, though in Yoruba smoothly translates to “Come Go Home With Me”, it must never be confused with “Come And Go With Me”, a popular R&B song recorded many years later by Teddy Pendergrass**
