Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Story Of MKO Abiola’s Wealth (by Sunday Joseph Adenuga) {Re: FROM THE ARCHIVES: MKO Abiola and ITT: From the Horse's Mouth - by Mobolaji Aluko (July 1997)

On 6/17/12 2:40 AM, Mobolaji ALUKO wrote:
> "The most widely known critic of Chief Abiola was Fela Kuti. In his
> twenty-five minute song "ITT" (International Thief Thief), although
> the song was not about Moshood Abiola, he mentioned the name of both
> Olusegun Obasanjo and Moshood Abiola at the very end. It is far less
> widely known that Fela had been signed to Moshood Abiola's record
> label, Decca W.A. and had a dispute over royalties with him. When
> Abiola asked Fela to take him to court if he felt that he had been
> treated unfairly, he instead opted to destroy the studio's of Decca.
> This may have been because Abiola's influence and Fela's unpopularity
> with the establishment would have made it unlikely that he received a
> fair trial."
>

This is coming to me as a new piece of information, a very important
one, the kind that has been called for in our assessment of the
historical standing of those we are putting forward as national heroes.
There is no other source, to my knowledge, to corroborate the widespread
notion of Abiola's supposed inflated contract deal with the
Murtala/Obasanjo Goverenment than Fela's music album. To now learn that
Fela may have his own personal grouse against Abiola is interesting
indeed. The enduring impact of Fela's album in defining Abiola's legacy
and the reluctance of the public to embrace him, speaks to the power at
the disposal of the artist that money cannot buy or power repress. I
have always wondered when I read polls that a significant number of
Americans still believe their president was born in Kenya. I do not
simply laugh like my friends do and say oh, those Americans...! I am not
saying that those charging Abiola with dirty money are like "birthers".
I am only saying that I think there is something here about how easily
things come together to create legends that come to constitute their own
truths.

Bode

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