HELLO GOODBYE
Dele Sosimi and Egypt 80
It began with Fela Kuti in Lagos. It ended when his apprentices followed his example.
HELLO 1979
I was lucky because I was [Fela Kuti’s son] Femi’s best mate in high school in Lagos. So with Fela, I have a double privilege of being an extra son and working in the band.
When I met Fela for the first time [in Ikeja, location of Kuti’s Afrika Shrine nightspot, at the house of his friend J.K. Brimah] I was going on 14. Femi said, “Fela, you remember my friend, the son of the banker [Oyekunle Sosimi] that was assassinated?” Fela was, “Quick, come, sit down, tell me what exactly happened.” I was touched. On my dad’s side, everybody was scared shitless. But Fela was like, you know, “My house was burned and I’m fighting the case, I’m gonna win and I’m gonna fight for your family.” I looked at him like a hero from then on.