Fela’s die-hard protegee, Dede Mabiaku, remains the unrepentant apostle of Abami-Eda years after his death. This really played out recently when our Contributing Editor, IFECHI OKOH, talked to Dede Mabiaku in the spirit of the on-going Felabration celebration. His sharp response to questions in the typical Fela fashion of blending Queens English and Pidgin brought back the memories of the late Maverick musician during this exclusive close up.

Savour:

Why has Dede been lying low?

I no know what you mean by lying low! If I have been lying low... well I choose to be so because peace is supreme for that's what I have been seeking for, for quite a while now. Luckily for me, I found it when I left this city for some time. I mean peace of mind! Everybody get his time for things. For a long time, I no dey around. Within this period of sojourn, I learnt a lot of things. I mean things I wouldn't have learnt if I was around. Life, to me, is actually more than rabble rousing and noise making. Honestly.When we try to become more introspective, we start to appreciate values as a result of our choice. Oh yes! That's just to ensure that better life rolls in.

Afrobeat followers have been waiting and hanging out for your much awaited vinyl. What’s still holding down the push out, please?

So many things dey involved. The ever bad economic situation, worsened by thiefu, thiefu bunch of destroyers in the corridor of power who have never meant any good for Nigerians whom dem don finish their lives. Imagine! How things wan move under that sibiri condition? However, I don hold my side down well, well. If you hear my songs, you self go know say I tryooo... Oh yes, Dede still deyooo... That's exactly what I proved there!

Can you kindly let us into the title of the album, abeg?

Me let you into the title of the album? No way! I no go talk about the title. Me, I no dey do like that. When the album ready, I go tell una. Naso the matter be! All I can say is that the work is a vibrant afro beat package, spiced with highlife flavour. I talk well, well there. Whether you talk true or not, you go die wen time reach. I know that and everybody too sabi that one. So it is better to talk true before you die. Abi?

Given the past Fela face-offs with the authorities as a result of the vitriolic lyrics of his albums, what steps have you taken to avoid such face-off with the authorities?

We don reach that point of realization. Before, we dey fear the people wey dey there. But now, we no dey fear them again. In fact, now, na me be them Egbon(senior brother). Oya. People dey realize at a point that the essence of their being. Na that level me I dey now. Na goat dey dey run, nobi human being. Man dey stand as a man. I no fit run now!! To me, no fit do am at all. The worst be say I die noni. My brother, if you learn the kind things wey me learn, go through the kind of situation wey me I find myself, you go know say courage comes with he who’s a man.

May we know the factors that have been spurring you as a militant act like your mentor, Fela?

For the mere fact that when I wake up daily, I see a bunch of Nigerians go through much pains and indignity in the name of survival, doing it with smiles, it beats me hollow. Honestly. However, the pitiable situation gives me hope as a musician because I am in a position to better their lives through my songs. Na so nah.

Why are you adoring Fela for life?

Why I no go adore him for life? When Fela dey here, he adopt me as his son. As he do for me, Na so I go do for am too until I quit this earth physically. The man stands for truth and he personified it too, till he died. He personified true African personality through his life, living and style. He symbolized the essence of being the first African to be celebrated on the Broadway. With all these achievements, I begin to wonder aloud why the FG is yet to immortalize him. The authorities need to listen to Fela’s thoughtful and biting social commentaries, so as to see themselves better in the mirror. I want them to listen to “Authority stealing”, “Beast of no nation”, “Big Blind Country (BBC)”, “Original Suffer Head” and other thought-provoking releases. All these would make them to start to think and reason properly for good. Honestly, Fela does not need FG’s immortalization because he has since immortalized himself. Today, good Nigerians are celebrating the icon. Since Felabration started, it has been running for a whole week. Imagine! Sooner than anybody thinks, Felabration would become a world event. Fela had already been immortalized by the world. Wetin he wan take FG’s recognition do?

Fela is highly regarded within and outside Nigeria. People who have not known the essence of Fela cannot know his worth. Finish. If our rulers didn't see the essence of Fela which the world has been showing them, too bad. It only shows the pitiable state of the mind of our rulers.

What's the relationship between you and Femi Kuti?

It’s very mutual. Although, I have not been attending his shows because I have been very busy. Also, he’s not been attending mine. Perhaps for same reason. All of us na busy persons.

Are you married, please?

Marry again? I don marry, Waka comot since. I don taste am. I be the kind of person wey marry to his heart. The person wey I been dey married to, na beautiful dancer. We marry, because we like to marry. She Waka, because she wan Waka. If you no let am waka, you sef no go rest. Na so the matter beooo ... my brother. Na so wen Baba Fela marry 27women, him do am because some idiots dey treat am anyhow. That kind thing na nonsense. Imagine, policemen treating the women anyhow. In fact, na one of his dancers tell am Fela marry your dancers because if you marry them, these policemen no go threat them anyhow again. That was how he married all of the 26 women and his first Original wife, which made them 27women on the whole. He do am and it worked out for good. Na so nah.

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