The farewell attracted a memorable turnout of an estimated one million people, which reflected Fela’s influence beyond music and his place in the hearts of ordinary Nigerians.
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 at a press conference and clarified that heart failure was the immediate cause, with complications from AIDS.
The news shocked fans, fellow musicians and admirers across the country. However, the scale of the public grief became clearer when his family organised funeral ceremonies in Lagos.
On August 11, Fela’s body lay in state at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), where approximately 150,000 people gathered to pay their last respects. His body rested in a glass coffin as fans filed past to honour the musician. His favourite music also formed part of the tribute, as bands performed his songs and celebrated his extraordinary career.
The ceremony later turned into a public procession. Fela’s coffin left TBS for the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, where his children and other family members planned a private ceremony before his burial.
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