It would be quite unsurprising if I am told that those who were born in the late 90s and even 2000s do not know about the famous Kalacuta Republic or have never heard about it. The reason of course is not farfetched. It is either they do not care to read history textbooks, listen to Nigerian history documentaries on the radio and television, or they are just knowledge haters. Yes, you heard that right. People are so different and weird when it comes to knowledge seeking.
That notwithstanding, let us get straight to the main focus of this article. Derived from the "Black Hole of Calcutta Dungeon" located in India, Nigeria's famous Kalacuta Republic is the name given to the residence where Nigeria's popular afro -pop musician - Fela Kuti, his family, band group and recording studio lived. Interestingly, Kalacuta is also a mockery of a prison cell named "Calcutta".
Located presently at No. 14 Agege road, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos State, Nigeria, the Kalacuta Republic accommodates a recording facility as well as a health clinic. It is on record that upon the musical icon's return from the United States in 1970, exactly after the Nigerian Civil War, he declared the Kalacuta Republic, an Independent entity or nation so to speak from the Nigerian State and her military government which he repeatedly referred to as "Wayo government" meaning fraudulent government.
Consequently, the compound - a part of the Kalacuta Republic was burned to the ground on February 18, 1977 after an assault perpetrated by Nigerian soldiers (based on an order given by the military government). This was obviously a rage that erupted because of Fela's reference to them as 'ombie' in his song. You know that saying - the truth is bitter and when it is told, it discomforts the offenders? The same thing happened to the military junta which decided to react offensively against Fela Kuti.
In the song Zombie, Fela ctiticised Nigerian soldiers of his time for obeying orders blindly and foolishly, allowing themselves to be used as tools to wreck havoc against the same people they pledged loyalty to defend and protect. Having being frustrated with the Nigerian army's rank and file that allowed corruption and the intimidation of the people to thrive unceasingly, Fela vehemently expressed his dissatisfaction and outright rejection of the government's impunity.
His song 'Zombie' was so popular in Nigeria to the extent that it drew the attention of then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, who was unhappy with Fela Kuti's constant lambasting of his government. During the attack at the Kalacuta Republic, it was unfortunate that Fela Kuti's mother, Frances Abigai Olufumilayo was thrown out of the window of the second floor, an infamous event which led to her death after being in coma for about two months.
On February 20, 1978, the Ace afro-pop giant secretly married twenty-seven women - his back-up singers who were popularly known as the Kalacuta Queens. When asked of his reason for marrying these twenty-seven women, he explained that he did what he did in order to give them social and economic security and save them from the thorns of unemployment and poverty especially after the recording studio had been destroyed. To Fela Kuti, these women needed to be protected as the Yoruba tradition demands.
Even upon Fela Kuti's demise, the Kalacuta Republic has remained a legendary and historical site for the remembrance of Nigeria's struggles and quest for equity, fairness, justice and good governance. This explains that the trouble with Nigeria never started today or even yesterday; it began the moment men began to think with their nose, see with their anus and lead with their ego!
The problem of Nigeria began the moment the British saw Nigeria as a good business conglomerate and Nigerians as perfect commodities of trade. Unfortunately, this same ideology was handed down to the leaders of the first republic who instead of truncating it and creating a new vision for the country, decided to embrace it.
Today, the Kalacuta Republic has been rebuilt and turned into a museum - the Kalacuta Museum. It was officially launched and opened for public usage on October 15, 2012 in commemoration of Fela Kuti's 74th posthumous birthday. The museum contains the display of Fela Kuti's dance clothing, Instruments, artworks, restaurant and a hotel.
Indeed, the Kalacuta Republic was a Republic in a Republic.