Rikki Stein says that working with the Afrobeat legend was unpredictable but highly rewarding.
At least a million mourners turned up for the funeral of Nigerian musician, and voice of the downtrodden, Fela Kuti, his manager Rikki Stein remembers.
“Fela died of one beating too many. His body was covered in scars and his mind and spirit had to cope with 200 arrests. The system can only take so much,” Stein tells the BBC in an interview to mark the publication of his memoir – in part about his 15 years managing arguably Nigeria’s most influential musician.
“Fela was sitting on a couch, dressed in just a pair of Speedos . We shook hands and he invited me to join him on the couch. “Suddenly there was a commotion in the baggage hall. It was Fela Kuti, climbing over the carousels and heading towards us, shouting ‘Rikki!’. When he reached me, he gave me a hug.I indicated the smoked-glass window. He walked over and clicked his fingers above the glass. The passport appeared. ‘C’mon Rikki, let’s go’.Getty ImagesOver subsequent years, despite the intensity, Stein never tired of experiencing Fela performing on stage at full throttle.
“Come Sunday a large crowd gathered around the grave. Suddenly, the earth began to move and a hand appeared! I pulled Emmanuel out. His hands were warm.”The size of the crowd who turned up to his funeral in Lagos was testament to Fela's wide appeal He was detained and then appeared before a military tribunal which sentenced him to five years in prison.
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