Abami Eda (For Fela Anikulapo-Kuti)

Appears the strange Fella On a stage of many fellows But not doing “Mr Follow-follow” Smoking it out the truth Into the skulls of the VIP Like no other fellow Abami, thorning their flesh ceaselessly Amidst them the Generals The fella Fela shivers their spines Telling peole to stop “Shuffering and Smiling” But General Hog was not done Decreed Republic’s demolition “Zombie” swamp on our Jerusalem His Mama’s life cut short in Kalakuta Then came a “Coffin for Head of State” Abami, gallowed with pant in gaol Yet, he weeds on with vigour Kalakuta People’s Replublic must stay General Swine’s Zombies tortured him His long skinned trousers appear ruffled A Fela puffs his way out of the gaol Yet, his mouth waxes stronger Afro-tune sax To the great beyond the sky “In no be Gentleman at all But for once, he never betrayed the truth. Alayade Stephen T. 29th, September, 2006 11.00am NB-Abami Eda means a strange fellow. VIP in Fela’s parlance means Vagabond in Power, And Mr Follow-Follow, Coffin For Head Of State, Zombie, Shuffering and Smiling are all titles of popular tracks amidst his hit songs.