This year, which marks the 20th anniversary of Fela Kuti's death, will see the Ransome-Kuti family get a distinguished recognition from the Nigerian government, in collaboration with the Ogun State.
The Ransome-Kuti's ancestral home in the state's capital of Abeokuta will be turned into a museum, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, confirmed to Punch.
"We have always said that one of the important assets we have is our cultural heritage, our history and this project, which is going to immortalise the Ransome-Kuti family, is laudable and admirable," Lai Mohammed told Punch.
"The family, as you know, represent different things to different people, whether you talk about education, emancipation, music or entertainment. Therefore, this attempt by the government at immortalising the family by preserving and restoring the ancestral home is very commendable."
The Ransome-Kuti's ancestral home in the Ogun State capital of Abeokuta.
Credit: Etcetera9ja via Konbini
The new museum will be called the Heritage Museum and is set to open next year.
Governor Amosun added that "the Kuti family is one of those illustrious families that conquered the world, not only Ogun Sate or Abeokuta or Nigeria . Indeed, at times when I am away in the US and I take a cab, the music I hear is that of great Fela himself."
"Fela was far ahead of his time. For us, it will be in our interest to let people know his origin, his root," he told Punch.
Everybody say "Yeah Yeah!"
