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How and Why “Unknown Soldiers” Attacked Fela’s Home, Kalakuta Republic, in 1977

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Kalakuta Republic on fire during the attack in 1977

Kalakuta Republic was the home of the late musician and political activist, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The commune, located at No. 6 Agege Motor Rd., Moshalashi, Lagos, enclosed Fela’s recording studio, nightclub and a private clinic which was operated by his younger brother, Beko Ransome-Kuti. The two‐storey yellow building also housed Fela’s family and band members.

The name ‘Kalakuta‘ was a parody of Calcutta prison in India where Fela served a sentence in 1974 for possessing marijuana which many believed was politically motivated. Fela declared Kalakuta an independent republic from Nigeria due to his hatred for the then military government which he believed ruled Nigerians with dishonesty. Having a republic inside a republic did not go down well with the military government…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

Military men outside Kalakuta republic
Military men outside Kalakuta Republic

Fela’s relationship with the military government deteriorated when he released a best-selling track titled ‘Zombie’ which mocked Nigerian soldiers. The song gained nationwide attention which angered the military government of Olusegun Obasanjo. A line of the song says, “Zombie no go walk unless you tell am to walk“, i.e., a zombie (fool) won’t walk unless commanded.

Download Zombie by Fela Kuti

Their already strained relationship got severed on a fateful day when two of Fela’s boys got in a heated argument with a military police officer for driving one of Fela’s vehicle which had no plate number at the front; this was on the 18th of February, 1977. Fela’s boys, identified as Segun Adams and Segun Ademola, argued that since there was a plate number at the back, they would not let the officer impound the vehicle.

Fela’s boys drove away as the argument got intense. Some military men chased them to Kalakuta Republic but were denied entrance. This infuriated the military men and they set fire to the generator that powered Kalakuta Republic and cut its electric fence as well, then called for back up to fully invade the commune.

Fela Kuti explaining a point to Mr. Justice Anya after the Kalakuta raid
Fela Kuti explaining a point to Mr. Justice Anya after the Kalakuta raid

Shortly after, about one thousand soldiers arrived with machine guns. Stampede ensued in Kalakuta Republic as the soldiers mercilessly beat its occupants including Fela and his brother. Fela’s brother, Beko, claimed they were almost killed during the attack. Women were beaten and molested. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Fela’s mother, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was beaten and thrown from an upstairs window. She eventually died from the injuries she sustained during the attack. The soldiers set fire to the commune which razed to ashes in no time.

Fela being rushed to the hospital after he was beaten by soldiers
Fela being rushed to the hospital after he was beaten by soldiers

Properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed; most of Kalakuta’s 60 occupants were in the hospital and so were a number of innocent bystanders who ran past the flames with their arms held straight in the air, a gesture of surrender, but were clubbed anyway by drunken, red-eyed soldiers. It was indeed a horrible day for Fela and his family. People believed that Fela’s beef with the military government culminated in the attack on Kalakuta Republic.

Fela and band members during a dance rehearsal at Kalakuta Republic | TheNetNG
Fela and band members during a dance rehearsal at Kalakuta Republic

However, the Kutis did not let the military go away with their assault. They filed a N25 Million lawsuit against the Nigerian military. The Kutis’ lawyer, Mr Tunji Braithwaite, handled the case brilliantly but eventually lost to the military government on the ground that the soldiers who attacked Kalakuta Republic were unknown soldiers. Thus the case was dismissed!

Kalakuta Republic in ashes
Kalakuta Republic in ashes

An infuriated Fela who later lost his mother as a result of the attack carried a replica of her coffin to the Dodan military barracks and dropped it off. He later released a song titled ‘Coffin for Head of State’ in 1980 which narrated the attack on Kalakuta and the death of his mother.

Fela and his mother, Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti
Sad faces of Fela Kuti and his mother, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti, during the probe on the Kalakuta attack

The military government of Olusegun Obasanjo revoked the Kutis’ Certificate of Occupancy of the commune. The site of the demolished Kalakuta Republic is now occupied by a school, named after Fela’s original surname: Ransome-Kuti Memorial Grammar School.

 

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Teen Boy Accepts Stranger’s Offer For Ride Home Not Knowing He Will Change His Home

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Life is about survival. Many people will wait for something incredible to happen to them. Others, make it happen themselves.

When you’re pushed to the brink, you can do the unthinkable. Chauncey Black, a teenager, felt that enough was enough. It was time for him to look fate in the eye.

While inside the Highland Kroger in the affluent part of town, he asked a stranger for a request. This would alter the course of his life.

Chauncey Black had a rough upbringing. Even though he lived with his mother, he was often unable to feed himself. There was just nothing to eat. He was basically starving…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

Ultimately, he decided he could do only one thing, and that was to go to a grocery store in the rich part of town.

Almost penniless, the young man found enough to cover his bus fare. His original plan was to ask shoppers if they needed help in exchange for food.

What ended up happening was nothing like he expected.

Once in the store, he asked a shopper if he could help carry their groceries to their car. He said he would do it for a box of donuts.

Matt White was the man he approached. Matt noted that Chauncey’s demeanor wasn’t the best at the time, but he admired his perseverance.

He then decided to ask Chauncey some questions to get a better understanding of his situation.

Matt learned that Chauncey lacked a phone and food. All he had was his bus pass.Matt White felt that a box of donuts wasn’t enough. Chauncey was clearly in need of aid.

Matt White then went around the Highland Kroger and picked out groceries to send him with the teenager. Matt purchased a “bit of everything” ranging from soap to pizza.

As they were chatting and shopping together, Matt also found out that Chauncey was an excellent academic. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

He was earning straight As in school and was seeking a part-time job to help out at home.

Even though Chauncey was down on his luck, Matt felt the optimism radiate from the teenager. Chauncey spoke on his ambitions of wealth and success.

After their little shopping spree, Matt gave Chauncey a ride home. What he saw shocked him.

Things were exactly as Chauncey said. The house lacked proper furniture and bedding. The mother and her son using sleeping bags as a mattress. Matt also noticed the empty fridge.

Chauncey’s mother suffers from a number of medical ailments that made it tough for her to even walk.

After Matt White’s touching goodbye with Chauncey Black, he decided that what he had done still wasn’t enough. He ended up beginning a GoFundMe in Chauncey’s name.

What happened next was amazing.

The GoFundMe ended up raising $341,000!! Initially, Chauncey was only seeking money to help pay for new clothing. Everything he and his mother owned was in shambles.

The money also allowed him the opportunity to begin funding his own business and sleep on a proper bed.

Strangers can sometimes deliver true kindness to each other. Apart from Matt’s efforts, the social media campaign to help Chauncey was truly incredible.

Even though he was the recipient of thousands of dollars through the GoFundMe, Chauncey still believed in the need for financial independence.

He is truly inspiring!

 

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Surgeons said it’s the worst case they have seen to date, removed over 2 lbs from his body!

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Per reports, the doctors were stunned when the 16-year-old boy came into the hospital complaining of pains in his midsection. He didn’t know why he was suffering and asked the doctors for help.

After discovering the stunning cause of the boy’s, Arjun, pain, the doctors had no choice but to operate. The teen showed up at the hospital complaining of the pain in his stomach. When the professional performed an endoscopy, they discover the unusual cause of his suffering. They had never seen anything like it, and this teen’s body was filled with something very unusual.

According to the doctors, the teenager from India reportedly had more than 2 pounds or 300 grams of wood and plastic inside his body that he had apparently eaten. So much of this stuff had gotten inside the teen. Doctors needed to operate twice to get it all out…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

And he may not be done with his surgery yet. Arjun faces another operation so doctors can be sure that he no longer has any of these foreign objects inside of his digestive tract. After the truth came out, Arjun admitted to doctors that he was addicted to chewing on plastic and wood pieces.

“Whenever we spotted him eating rubber, we would stop him from doing so, but he wouldn’t mend his ways,” his father, Gurmeet, a farmer, said. “Away from our sight, my son continued ingesting these items.

As time passed by he became addicted to this, but never complained of any problem.” Although his family knew that he was chewing on rubbers and wood, they weren’t able to stop the teenager from his odd habit. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

But Arjun was smarter than them. He knew that his family did not approve of his fixation, so he simply started doing it in private where no one would be able to see him. “We thought the boy has grown up and kicked the habit by himself, but that was not the truth. One and a half years ago, Arjun first complained of stomach pain.

Since then he has been suffering from acute stomach ache. We took him to several doctors, but nobody could diagnose what was the actual problem of the pain.” Although his family seemed to be in on Arjun’s secret addiction to wood and plastics, they did not inform the doctors, Yahoo News reports.

So the professionals went on the assumption that the boy had an ulcer. And when he started to lose weight and had trouble breathing, the doctors knew his case was dire and he needed to be healed. “Around a week ago, his condition started deteriorating after he complained of breathlessness and stopped eating altogether,” the father added.

“I am thankful to the doctors that saved the life of my son.” Because he ate so much wood and plastic, the materials formed a knot inside his intestines. It became so thick not even water could pass through his body.

 

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Doctor Realizes That What Mother Gave Birth To Were Not..

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In the realm of medical mysteries, there are few stories as perplexing and emotional as that of Karen and Frank, a couple whose lives were forever altered when their triplets were born. What started as a typical trip to the hospital quickly spiraled into a whirlwind of confusion, secrecy, and ultimately, relief.

Today, we delve into the incredible story of Karen’s unusual birth, the shocking revelations that followed, and the unexpected turn of events that led to a heartwarming resolution.

It all began when Karen felt the telltale signs of labor, prompting a hasty trip to the hospital. Frank, her husband, was there by her side, ready to welcome their three new bundles of joy into the world. Little did they know that this journey would be far from ordinary…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

Medical Mystery Unveiled : Upon Karen’s delivery, the doctor’s reaction was nothing short of bizarre. His pale face and inability to speak left the new parents in a state of anxiety. It was clear that something was friends, and more tests were urgently needed to ensure the safety of their triplets.

Parental Determination : As the doctor seemed unwilling to share information with the parents, tension began to mount. Frank’s determination to see his children drove him to take matters into his own hands. He ventured into the hospital’s research section to uncover the truth.

Late-Night Revelation : Karen, on the other hand, found herself locked in a room, isolated from her infants. This separation only fueled her determination to understand the secrets surrounding her children’s birth. Her relentless pursuit led her to a daring act in the middle of the night – breaking into the nursery to see her babies. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

DNA Testing and Shocking Discoveries : The mystery deepened when DNA testing revealed that Frank was the biological father of the triplets, but Karen’s DNA was nowhere to be found. It was a revelation that left everyone bewildered and Karen in a state of shock. What could possibly explain this peculiar situation?

The Doctor’s Revelation : Desperate for answers, the doctor decided to bring Frank and Karen in for a face-to-face meeting. Karen’s growing anxiety and Frank’s concern for the infants’ well-being were palpable. The doctor revealed the shocking truth – Karen’s cramped uterus had stunted the infants’ growth, leading to their small size.

A Glimpse of Hope : While the explanation was unexpected and initially disconcerting, it offered a glimmer of hope for Karen and Frank. They learned that their babies would gradually grow into healthy, typical-sized children. The medical mystery that had loomed over their lives was finally solved.

Conclusion : Karen and Frank’s journey, marked by secrecy, confusion, and a rollercoaster of emotions, is a testament to the unpredictable nature of life. It reminds us that sometimes, the most bewildering mysteries have the simplest explanations. Their story is a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience, hope, and the unwavering love of parents for their children, no matter the circumstances.

As we reflect on their remarkable journey, it reinforces the notion that in the face of adversity and the unknown, love and determination can ultimately prevail, bringing us to a brighter tomorrow.

 

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