By Charles Okogene
Somewhere in Alagbole, the boarder community between Ogun and Lagos states lies Femi Anikulapo-kuti’s private home. A place he started constructing before the death of his father in 1997.
The buildings in there sit atop two and half plots of land and he bought them in the 1990s.
Today, there are five buildings in there. Two bungalows; the one on the left hand side as they flung the gate open for one to enter, belongs to Femi while the one on the right hand side directly overlooking his mother’s grave side belongs to Yeni. At the left hand side of Femi’s apartment is a swimming pool while in the front is a car garage that contains three cars, at least as at the day this writer visited.
At the back of these two buildings are three duplexes; one housing Made, his wife and the newly opened studio. Another one by the left directly behind Yeni’s own is the one that is supposed to be that of the late Sola, Fela’s youngest daughter from his first wife, Remi. She also died in 1997, weeks after Fela’s death. Yet there is another one occupied by his numerous domestic aides while at the left hand side of Yeni’s building is the generator house that houses the giant gens that supply electricity to the entire compound when public electricity fails. There is also a football and basketball pitches in between Femi and Made’s buildings.
However, do not try to access the building uninvited as his over 15 giant attack and pet dogs will have you for their breakfast, launch, or dinner.
The last time I was there despite the fact that I was taken around by Made , I had my heart in my mouth for fear of the beasts.
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