Laide Anikulapo-Kuti, one of the estranged wives of late afrobeat legend, Fela Anipolakuti has revealed what actually killed the iconic singer.
Laide, also known as Nee Babayale, made this revelation while speaking at an event ‘Fela and The Kalakuta Queens’, held at Terra culture in Lagos during the week.
She refuted reports that the icon died of AIDS in 1977.
According to her, Fela died from several beatings of soldiers not from AIDS as reported.
She said “Fela did not die of AIDS. I still wonder what gave them that impression.
“What killed Fela was the beating he received from soldiers for many years. He was always in pain because of the beatings and that affected his health seriously.
“I totally disagree that Fela died of AIDS.
She further disclosed that not much is being done to immortalize Fela.
“It is only Bolanle Austin Peters that is doing anything to honour him and his wives. Apart from her, there is no other person doing that.
“It is only the children that are doing Felabration and they are just doing it for their own pocket; it is not for us. Bolanle is honouring Fela today because she knows and appreciates what Fela stood for. I don’t know how old she was when Fela was alive, but she is still celebrating Fela after 20 years, a time when everybody has forgotten about us.
“When Bolanle called me and said she wanted to celebrate us, I was like ‘why, who are we?’ May God bless her soul for remembering the women that stood and fought with Fela? Since Fela died we have been completely forgotten. Bolanle really gave us honour.”
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