By Patricia Uyeh

It appears it is not the best of times for the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti family and his protege, Dede Mabiaku.

According to Thenet.ng, since the death of Afrobeat legend, Fela and the inception of Felabration 18 years ago, Dede Mabiaku is about the only musician that has never performed at the annual festival despite his close ties with the late Fela. In a September 2016 interview, Dede said bluntly, ”That I have not been invited by them to perform at the Felabration, it should be your duty to ask them how and why.”

Dede added, “The question is why Dede has not been performing at the shrine at the Felabration. Have you asked Femi and Yeni? You shouldn’t ask Dede, you should ask the source. So you now go ask me about another person thing, you go ask the person, why?”

According to Thenetng, what seemed to be a response to Dede Mabiaku, at the just concluded Felabration, Daddy Showkey asked that Dede be invited to Felabration and immediately, Femi Kuti lashed out at Dede. Femi Anikulapo Kuti was quoted saying: He(Dede Mabiaku) claims he’s Fela’s son but anytime we do anything for Fela, he never shows up. We don’t pay anybody to come for Felabration, we just mention Fela’s name and artistes turn up because of their love for Fela. So anybody we wan shakara us make he go die.”

Photo credit: The Nation, Enconium