In this article, the comrades of the Nigerian Marxist journal, Workers'
Alternative, examine the revolutionary essence of the music and songs
of the late Afro-beat master, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who died on August
2, 1997. The article was originally written on the first anniversary of
his death. This artist was extremely popular among African workers and
youth for the radical and revolutionary content of his lyrics.
The objective situation in Nigeria can best be described as a big time
bomb ticking at a very fast rate. The Trade Union leadership is under a
lot of pressure, as big revolts over wages and working conditions have
broken out. They are still holding back the movement qualitatively but
it is only a matter of time before it explodes on a higher level. Many
of the big companies are now directly cutting wages by as much as
40%-70%. The pressures on the lower classes are mounting by the day.
The stock exchange is always overheating. A crash is inevitable.
We are publishing an article sent to us from the Editorial Board of the Nigerian Marxist journal, the Workers' Alternative
and is to be published in the next edition of their paper. It argues
the case against the privatisation plans of the Obasanjo regime and
poses the need for planned economy in Nigeria.