Stella Dimoko Korkus.com: Musician Onyeka Onwenu Talks About Late Afrobeat Legend Fela's Marriage Proposal In Her Autobiography

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Sunday, January 17, 2021

Musician Onyeka Onwenu Talks About Late Afrobeat Legend Fela's Marriage Proposal In Her Autobiography

In her recently published autobiography titled 'My Father's daughter' veteran singer, Onyeka Onwenu revealed that legendary Afrobeats artiste, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti wanted to get married to her in the 90's..
 






According to Onwenu, Fela who already had wives as well as concubines had  wanted to make her his wife but she refused; telling him that she is a ‘possessive lover’ who cannot afford to share her man with other ladies.


Read the excerpts below:

“I had just turned into Falolu Street in Surulere when a car pulled up behind me.
Seated in it was Fela.
He was pleasant and introduced himself while inviting me to his nightclub that evening.
I knew that I was not going to honour the invitation; but it was rather flattering to be invited all the same...

“The second time I encountered Fela was in 1984, a few years after I had returned from the United States.

He had just been released from jail.
Fela had been arrested for attempting to travel with his band for a gig in London with the sum of 1,600 pounds for their hotel accommodation.

Carrying any amount of foreign currency was against one of the many decrees promulgated by the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta.”

In another paragraph, she wrote;

“Meanwhile, just days later a certain traditional ruler was allowed into the country with 53 suitcases; allegedly stuffed with the currency. The implications were many and I made these known in an opinion piece which was published in The Vanguard newspapers.

In hindsight, I realise that the government could have had me arrested for being so critical.
It was not a tolerant regime at all. I do recall, however, that Brigadier General Idiagbon, the second-in-command; had commented that the government would accept criticism from people like Onyeka Onwenu because ‘that woman loves Nigeria.’


I was touched and I longed to meet him; but never did.His premature death in 1999 was a shock to me.”


‘I TOLD FELA I’M A POSSESSIVE LOVER’


“While I wanted to see him, I had noticed that his Queens—the euphemism for his numerous dancer-wives—had been looking at me with scorn.
They passed by often, whispering comments about me.


They were downright hostile and quite obvious about it.

I pointed this out to Fela and told him that I was a possessive lover; and would not be able to cope as an appendage to his harem.

Fela laughed.

He seemed to enjoy the idea that the women were ‘fighting’ to keep his affection. He did not persist with the marriage proposal, however.

It was a good night out and Onuorah Udenwa was a perfect escort. I did not stay for too long and he took me home safely.”


Her final paragraph reads;

“That was my last encounter with Abami Eda.
Fela stood for all that was bold, creative and self-assured about Nigeria, as the preeminent black nation in the world.

In a sense, he was like Lagos; restless and unpretentious.”

She eulogized him further;

“His life was an open book and his stand on any issue was always clear.
He stirred up in Nigerians a certain bittersweet taste.
He reminded us of how to be black and proud, even if we are from Africa where our leaders did anything but lead.

The confidence he exuded as a black person, asserting himself through his music on the world stage was palpable.
His radical nature of speaking out against State oppression made him the toast of Nigerians, and rightly so.

Fela criticized the heck out of our leaders and they deserved it.

They still do.

I could not understand, however, his philosophy or his views about women. Keeping a harem of women—27 wives—did not coincide with my idea of love.
from 1stnews.

27 comments:

  1. Hmnn
    Fela continue to rest.

    Beautiful onyeka with a melodious voice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Anonymous15:43 Heavens will Bless you for this. I have never commented here but had to today. Onyeka Onwenu almost scuttled or so she thought our life time coveted opportunity of a lifetime to get in to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we were given a note by my uncle to and see his friend who was the minister then to assist us as job seekers, Onyeka was in his office when were called in and on seeing her we were soo happy as per Ibo and a big Ibo sister at that, we thought we were home and dry, we greeted her in Ibo, Auntie Ndewo, Boom when she knew why we came, she kept making remarks about my friend and I that day years ago in 2013 that our eyes were too sharp and we will all be about fashion and not work if employed, saying this before a Minister who was about signing our paper for a lifetime breakthrough,, tears welled up in our eyes in fear and we are Ibo ladies, infact my friend to my shock broke down in loud tears because she had been jobless for 9yrs,, this onyeka, asked why we can not speak French and just English phonetics and French is needed, Aah this woman is a witch, but to The Glory of THE Great I AM THAT I AM, the Minister looked at us with pity or maybe he was touched by an Angel I may never know and signed our civil service papers, today my friend and I have done fabulously well, she is in the Nigerian Embassy in New York and has been to 4 countries on postings, I am here in London and have been to 5 countries on postings, sadly the died few years ago but we feel Blessed we got to thank him after he left as the Minister, we went to look for him and he was sooo happy to see us and remembered us. The woman is horrible from the pits if hell. I just posted this article to my friend to read. I will never forget my friend's loud cry that day. Chaiii desperation, and we were so beautifully dressed that day and beautiful ladies we are only for my friend to just let out this loud cry without shame, hahaha.. we always laugh when we talk about it,

      Delete
  2. Nice read
    May you live long Elegant mama

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  3. Elegant stallion! Very sophisticated n beautiful woman,quite brilliant too.
    I intend going on low cut after my delivery,wish I can get a hair dye like her hair's.

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  4. Sure gonna read the Autobiography!

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  5. I so much love her that when she did "wait for me" with King Suny Ade, i prayed for them to marry. Sunny Ade, late Evang Sonny Okosun(may his soul rest in peace) are my favourite musicians then.

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  6. I used to love this woman very much, until she took that political post under President Jonathan and became one of the untouchables/unquestionable. Almost a nuisance.

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  7. The elegant stallion herself. The book will be an interesting read.

    Rest on Abami Eda.

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  8. I have mixed feelings about her. Her music gives me the vibes. I love her music...

    Lovelace

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  9. The Elegant Stallion..!! Ada Mazi...!!
    This is quite an interesting read. I enjoyed every words. I am definitely going to read this autobiography. While I wait for the book, let me go and watch "Rising Moon" on YouTube. I love the songs in it.

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  10. She is one of the rudest, most stuck up people I've ever had the misfortune to meet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kwakwakwakwa

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much Anonymous15:43 Heavens will Bless you for this. I have never commented here but had to today. Onyeka Onwenu almost scuttled or so she thought our life time coveted opportunity of a lifetime to get in to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we were given a note by my uncle to and see his friend who was the minister then to assist us as job seekers, Onyeka was in his office when were called in and on seeing her we were soo happy as per Ibo and a big Ibo sister at that, we thought we were home and dry, we greeted her in Ibo, Auntie Ndewo, Boom when she knew why we came, she kept making remarks about my friend and I that day years ago in 2013 that our eyes were too sharp and we will all be about fashion and not work if employed, saying this before a Minister who was about signing our paper for a lifetime breakthrough,, tears welled up in our eyes in fear and we are Ibo ladies, infact my friend to my shock broke down in loud tears because she had been jobless for 9yrs,, this onyeka, asked why we can not speak French and just English phonetics and French is needed, Aah this woman is a witch, but to The Glory of THE Great I AM THAT I AM, the Minister looked at us with pity or maybe he was touched by an Angel I may never know and signed our civil service papers, today my friend and I have done fabulously well, she is in the Nigerian Embassy in New York and has been to 4 countries on postings, I am here in London and have been to 5 countries on postings, sadly the died few years ago but we feel Blessed we got to thank him after he left as the Minister, we went to look for him and he was sooo happy to see us and remembered us. The woman is horrible from the pits if hell. I just posted this article to my friend to read. I will never forget my friend's loud cry that day. Chaiii desperation, and we were so beautifully dressed that day and beautiful ladies we are only for my friend to just let out this loud cry without shame, hahaha.. we always laugh when we talk about it,

      Delete
    3. I believe you. Seeing her as a judge on that singing show was enough to convince me. She thinks too highly of herself and looks narcissistic. Part of why she is bringing up this half baked story for attention yearssss later as if anyone even cares to know. Did Fela leave any of his women to be with you after they were so mean to you? No sis. That alone should tell u how he regarded you. So u have no bragging rights. Something about her screams wicked naija aunty

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    4. Anon 16:59 she looks the type. Like she would be jealous of young women blessed with opportunities because she scrambled hers. I can definitely see her thinking like that

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    5. Anon 16:59 why anyone will ever think she looks nice is beyond me. Yall must not pick up on body language fast enough. She has always seemed super snooty to me even though I never met her. Bruh. In half her pictures n videos she is literally looking down her nose at people. Lmao

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  11. The fact that you expected her to treat you with favoritism just cus she is igbo is making me crack up. It doesn't sound off to you? At least you learned a huge lesson in not being a tribalist that day. Onyeka married n had kids with a yoruba man n I believe if she had read your mind that day she would have made sure that man didn't get u the job..probably part of why she treated u in such a manner was the vibe u gave off. Glad it worked out for ur friend though but wouldn't it be unfair in your own brain if she had denied you based off of your tribe alone. No. Think about it

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  12. Did she bang Fela? Seems starstruck!

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  13. Very rude woman. Had the misfortune of meeting her at Ibadan Airport about five years. I was with my husband, newly married and pregnant. She was just 'eyeing' me up and down without hiding it. Later my friend told me that she was jealous of what she saw that I had as it appears that she knew people that Had similar encounters with her. I couldn't believe it . Now I have confirmed it from majority of the posts here. Very unhappy woman.

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  14. Baba for take preeq scatter her head.

    ReplyDelete

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