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(ง’̀-’́)ง Nº205 Fight for what’s right ✊🤼♂️
hey, hate to break it to you, but it’s a dog eat dog world out there.
This past week, I was not only reminded of that somber reality but also how much kindness, generosity & hope is out there too.
While writing this issue, I was listening to ‘Dog Eat Dog’, by The Souljazz Orchestra, it features Nigerian author, activist and artist Mabinuori Kayode Idowu. The lyrics stuck with me as the unjust struggles globally for so many and, of course, my own were on my mind.
So, with a renewed inspiration by the notion of fighting for what’s right, I learned more about Mabinuori’s efforts. I also quickly discovered that he was a friend and musical collaborator with Fela Anikulakpo Kuti. (I’ve been a fan for ages but hadn’t learned enough about him yet!)
Mabinuori even wrote a biography about Fela. So, as I do, I dug in a bit and found some bullet points of wisdom to share as a preamble to this week’s issue from 6 Key Business Lessons from Fela Kuti, Africa’s greatest music legend, by John-Paul Iwuoha:
- Dare to be different ~ Fela Kuti decided to pursue music and not becoming an MD like his siblings. The author’s point? “Why fit in when you can stand out? It always pays to be unique.”
- Be Bold — Never succumb to fear ~ Even in the face of the brutal military dictatorship that ruled Nigeria in the 1970s and 80s, Fela was one of the fiercest critics. Fela could have easily shut his mouth, but he didn’t. Boldness, like fear…
