Soyinka and Fela

It is 3a- I made the mistake of consuming “Mak-Dona” last night and now my stomach is running. But believe it or not, this is cause for celebration – it means my stomach is no longer accustomed to poison. In the distant future, when I decide to take on a husband again- I want him well domesticated – with a kin ability to handle the 3 Cs: Cook, clean,cuddle. What? Oh dear? Your fathers didn’t train you? I mean what else were you doing in your childhood, reading or something?

Jokes aside, ever heard of Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga of Congo/Zaïre.(TR: The all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, goes from conquest to conquest, leaving fire in his wake.”) I was reading on African historic figures and tell me why I just found out Nigerian Icons – Wole Soyinka and Fela Kuti are first cousins? How dope!

I did all my primary and secondary education in Africa but I was only introduced to African Literary Giants like, Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe, in my first year of US College when I took a World Literature Class. African education has really failed us but that is a topic for another day. Wole Soyinka is 90 and lives in his native Abeokuta, Nigeria. Oh! How I’d love to meet him. Any of you Nigerians on my page know somebody who knows somebody who knows him?

You have betrayed us. We fed you sweetmeats But you said No, I must eat the world’s left-overs […] No, I am content to lick the dregs from each calabash when the drinkers are done” – Soyinka describing African sellouts- in Death and the Kingshorseman

As for Fela, one of the greatest African musicians – ever. King of Nonconformism. I’ll have to do a whole piece on him. Couple quick sentences would be an insult to his legacy.

This day is as glorious as when I found out, Miriam Makeba- Mama Africa (the inspiration behind my headwraps) once woke up and married Stockely Carmichael, early leader of the Black Panther Movement. -OK – Kwicura session over. Back to sleep.

-Murare aharyana-