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| How Mrs Kuti inspired me |
FELA's MOM: The mother of Africa and Activist that encouraged the kind of work I did in Canada. She was banned in US, Canada and UK at one time and the Nigerian govt wont even renew her passport because of fear that she was a Communist after she went to visit Mao Tse Tung.
She walked NAKED into a King's palace to protest women's rights. Ransome-Kuti’s political activism led to her being described as the doyen of female rights in Nigeria, as well as to her being regarded as “The Mother of Africa.” Early on, she was a very powerful force advocating for the Nigerian woman’s right to vote. She was described in 1947, by the West African Pilot, as the “Lioness of Lisabi” for her leadership of the women of the Egba clan that she belonged to on a campaign against their arbitrary taxation.
She walked NAKED into a King's palace to protest women's rights. Ransome-Kuti’s political activism led to her being described as the doyen of female rights in Nigeria, as well as to her being regarded as “The Mother of Africa.” Early on, she was a very powerful force advocating for the Nigerian woman’s right to vote. She was described in 1947, by the West African Pilot, as the “Lioness of Lisabi” for her leadership of the women of the Egba clan that she belonged to on a campaign against their arbitrary taxation.
That struggle led to the abdication of the Egba high king Oba Ademola II in 1949. Kuti was the mother of the activists Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a musician, Beko Ransome-Kuti, a doctor, and Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a doctor and health minister of Nigeria[2]. She was the first woman in Nigeria to drive a car and to ride a bike. Throughout her career, she was known as an educator and activist. She and Elizabeth Adekogbe provided dynamic leadership for women’s rights in the ’50s.
She founded an organization for women in Abeokuta, with a membership tally of over 20 000 individuals spanning both literate and illiterate women. In old age her activism was over-shadowed by that of her three sons, who provided effective opposition to various Nigerian military juntas.
In 1978 she suffered injuries after being thrown from a second floor window when her son Fela’s compound, a commune known as the Kalakuta Republic, was stormed by one thousand armed military personnel. She lapsed into a coma in February of that year, and died on the 13th of April, 1978, as a result of them 35 years ago today.
Further below is my FB status asking former President Obasanjo pictured to please let us apologize as a nation to her family for her death.
I write for Wikipedia and added the N5000 note section. The Nigerian govt tried to put her face on the newest bill. Her grandsons world acclaimed Musicians (Fela's kids) Seun and Femi Kuti refused
the honor.
Proposed N5000 note controversy
On Thursday August 30, 2012, one of her grandsons, musician Seun Kuti responded to questions from fans and friends on Channels Television Nigeria’s hangout via Google+. Seun Kuti said his grandmother was murdered by the Federal Government and asked the Federal Government to apologise to his family for the death of his grandmother, Funmilayo Kuti, before considering immortalising her by putting her picture on the proposed N5000 note. As of 3 September 2012, the Nigerian government has yet to respond to his request nor apologized. Several protest groups have begun to form on social media adding pressure for a government apology
We are granting #terrorists amnesty
Even pardoning fat ass Alamieseghia
Why are we NOT APOLOGIZING to the KUTIS
for #Killing Mama? Many things I do in activism
is inspired by her.
#RIP Mrs Funlayo Anikulapo-Kuti
Once Banned from US/Canada/UK etc for her
correct views etc. Walked naked into
the Kings palace to fight for women's
rights and the best we can do is throw
her out the window killing her?
She fought for me!
She is my HERO!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funmilayo_Ransome-Kuti
Prez OBJ pls now!!Oya ke!! Lets put this matter to REST in peace.
I WANT EVERYONE TO CLICK SHARE ON THIS PICTURE!!
LET US STAND UP!!
KOO
@HNNAfrica on Twitter
With files from Nigerian National News (NNG.com)
