More than one million mourners reportedly took to the streets of Lagos to honour Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti during his funeral in August 1997. The massive turnout brought normal activities across the city to a standstill as Nigerians gathered to pay their final respects.
Fela died on August 2, 1997, at the age of 58, after an illness linked to AIDS. His elder brother, Dr Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, announced his death, explaining that heart failure was the immediate cause. On August 11, approximately 150,000 people gathered at Tafawa Balewa Square, where his body was laid in state in a glass coffin as musicians performed some of his favourite songs.
The funeral procession later moved from Tafawa Balewa Square to the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, attracting an estimated one million mourners. Crowds lined the streets, singing his songs and following the hearse. Fela’s funeral reflected his enormous influence beyond music and the lasting connection he had with ordinary Nigerians.
