August 2, 2014 makes it 17 years since the pioneer of Afro-beat music genre, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, passed away, however, his music continues to inspire millions across the world.
The prominent Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, died on August 2, 1997 at the age of 58.
Some of his hit songs include Open and Close, Sorrow Tears and Blood, Water No Get Enemy, Upside Down, Coffin for Head of State, International Thief Thief and Observation is no Crime.
Since his death, Fela’s music has influenced millions of fans both in Nigeria and all over the world.
Fela fearlessly criticised Nigeria’s government and religious elite over corruption, poverty, exploitation and social maladies. His struggle made him an icon of the black power movement. His songs repeatedly landed him in trouble with the authorities, including arrests and the allegedly burning of his compound, by soldiers.
Fela was married to 27 women on the same day, most of them his dancers.
In immortalising his name, the Lagos State government provided the family with N40 million (200,000 euros, $250,000) to set up a museum in Fela’s memory – which was opened in 2012, during “Felebration”, an annual series of events honouring Fela on his birthday
Fela’s nightclub in the Empire Hotel, first named the Afro-Spot and then the Afrika Shrine, where he both performed regularly, continues to be one of the major tourist attractions in Lagos.
His sons,Femi Kuti, who is the first son and Seun Kuti, the last son have followed in the foot-prints of the music legend. 
