Anybody with a passing interest in Nigerian music will probably have come across a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter post claiming Burna Boy’s mum, Bose Ogulu, was a dancer in Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s band.
That is one of the biggest false narratives in the Nigerian social media space, which has acquired the unenviable reputation of being the platform of choice for transmitting “fake news”.
There is even a picture going around of Fela on stage with one of his dancers many say is Mama Burna.
That picture has been shared by some people who should know better, further miseducating a generation with little or no interest in history.
It comes with the caption: “Below is a photo of Baba 70 Fela with one of his dancers Bose Ogulu on stage. Bose Ogulu is the mother of Nigeria’s musician Burna Boy. Are you thinking what I am thinking? Now we know.”
There is another picture of Burna Boy and his grandfather, Benson Idonije.
That one claims that with Mr Idonije as Fela’s manager and his daughter as Fela’s dancer, it is a no-brainer that Burna Boy’s music would be inspired by the Afrobeat legend.
The only truth in that is that Idonije was Fela’s first band manager and Fela inspires Burna Boy.
The part about Ogulu dancing for Fela is as fake as Michael Jackson’s nose.
Idonije managed what was then known as Fela Ransome-Kuti Quintet from 1963 till 1970.
He is one of the most credible keepers of the history of Fela’s life and music.
But he had long ceased to manage Fela’s band when Burna Boy was born in 1991.
With a father like Idonije, there is no doubt that Bose Ogulu grew up with a rich knowledge of Fela’s inner circle.
But contrary to the persona created on social media, she is an academic and language expert by training.
She has a first degree was in foreign languages and a postgraduate degree in translation.
Dancing for Fela did not feature among the things she wanted as a career.
Speaking in a story published by okayafrica.com in May 2019, Ogulu questioned the sense in reports that she danced for her father’s friend and confidant.
“How could I have danced for him? Chronologically, it doesn't add up...when did I dance for Fela?” she asked.
Another person who should know is Seun Kuti.
Seun did not only take over Fela’s band after his death in 1997, but he has also expanded the frontiers of Afrobeat music in ways many do not give him credit for.
The Grammy nominee debunked suggestion that Burna Boy’s mum danced for his father in replies to a Facebook post I made on Friday, November 15, 2019.
I had written, “Burna Boy’s mum never danced for Fela.”
Addressing the picture of the dancer many believe is Burna Boy’s mum, Seun wrote: “That isn’t Burna Boy’s mum. Except Burna Boy’s mum is Yemi.”
He later added: “I’m sure my dad didn’t even know her even if Uncle B was his manager.”
The man Seun refers to as Uncle B is Idonije, who, aside from being Fela’s former manager, is a veteran broadcaster, writer and music critic.
A poorly written Nigerian blog recently wrote: “Burna Boy could have been Fela's son if nature had permitted a turn of events. This is because Burna Boy's mother Bose Ogulu was one of Fela's dancers in the 80s and everyone knows what Fela does to his dancers.”
That statement is both uneducated and defamatory.
Burna Boy’s closest link to Fela is his grandfather.
His mother at best describes Fela as the closest thing she had to a godfather.
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