Brymo: 40 years from now, people will still identify with Fela’s music

Fela influenced several African and most Nigerian artistes – even those unborn before his death.

Ahead of ‘Fela! The Concert’, Olawale Ashimi, the artiste known as Brymo, says the music of the late legend will still be relevant for decades to come.

“You can’t write the story of Nigerian or African in general music without remembering Fela,” Brymo said while adding that Fela’s recordings were still identifiable because his lyrics contain “topics that affect day to day people”.

He said: “40 years from now when people listen to his songs, they will still identify with it – because you are talking about something that actually means something to everybody.

“It sticks, it never goes away.”

Brymo went on to state that Fela was an advocate of the yearn for meritocracy prevalent in today’s society.

The Klitoris singer said Fela preached against “sharing of money, a gift society where the public office holder only gives to those who are loyal to him”.

“We need to strengthen a system where there is fairness and everybody works and earns,” he added.

Brymo asserted that there weren’t many other African artistes who shared the ideology and philosophy of Fela.

“Part of those teaching, there’s just no other African artsite you can really look up in terms of philosophy and ideology more than Fela,” said Brymo.

Fela! The Concert will take place at Eko Convention Centre from April 13-15.