The State of Nigerian Nation: Is Fela also among the Prophets?

Abstract

The objectives of this work are to look into the philosophies of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and analyse some of his recorded works, which tend towards the prophetic. It also interrogates the state of the Nigerian nation through the prism of prophetic critique, situating the music and activism of Fela Anikulapo Kuti within a discourse that questions whether he can be regarded as a prophet in the socio-political sense or not. In eliciting information, this work made use of discographies, books and journal articles to establish the analysis. Drawing on biblical and African conceptualisations of prophecy, the study exposed parallels between Fela's fearless denunciations of power and the prophetic tradition of truth-telling, moral correction, and advocacy for the marginalised. Ultimately, the study highlights the enduring relevance of Fela’s prophetic imagination for rethinking governance, justice, and freedom in the Nigerian nation. His Afrobeat became both a cultural weapon and a form of social prophecy, exposing systemic injustice and envisioning alternative futures. It also noted that until the cultures and traditions of the Nigerian people are considered in the governance of the populace to a greater extent, while the Western systems are carefully well-thought-out, corruption and poor governance will still persist in the country.