Kalakuta Museum cements Fela’s legend status

Fela

The real indication of Fela’s legendary status is none other than the upcoming Kalakuta Museum (KM).

Such a museum can only be a viable proposition if it can attract worldwide tourism which is certain Fela’s name will make it do.

Already, Fela has proven he’s a confirmed tourist attraction.

While alive, his famed residence cum offices known as Kalakuta Republic at Emipre at Ojuelegba, Lagos then his Afrika Shrine at Pepple Street, Ikeja, Lagos and his final residence at Gbemisola Street in same Ikeja, were all Meccas attracting people from all walks of life like a magnet.

KM makes a lot of sense because even now he’s dead, his residence is still a tourist attraction and the current Shrine, though founded by his son, Femi, but relying on Fela’s name and feats, is also a successful tourist attraction.

A visit there at any hour of the day discloses it to be a beehive of activities with both famous names and unknowns hanging out there.

When KM is therefore opened officially after being modernized to international standards and then promoted to the world as a tourist attraction, it will certainly draw visitors from all over the globe.

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It’s not surprising that KM is being mooted. Fela has had a successful Broadway production of his life story in America and a Hollywood production is to follow soon. If he could pack audiences to watch his life story’s stage play, his museum will certainly draw the tourists.

But KM might never even be in planning and conception if not for the astuteness of Total Consult (TC) in recognizing both its viability and necessity.

TC is a reputable firm of architects and builders of numerous projects, notably the conversion of the first colonial prison in central Lagos to Freedom Park, a fast-rising historic and tourist spot in the city.

According to TC, when completed, KM will have an exhibition area, a coffee shop, a 5-room boutique hotel, a roof-top restaurant, a bar and stage, a souvenir shop, a passenger lift, the tomb area and the car park.

Its establishment is supported by the Lagos State Government and it’s scheduled for opening in October 2012 in time for Felabration, the annual music festival celebrating Fela’s life and his birthday on October 15th.

TC adds that the KM will achieve the following: the preservation of the history of an illustrious son of Africa, promotion of tourism in line with the Lagos State’s Mega City initiative, acquisitions, display and preservation of the artifacts, documents and records of the man referenced as well as those of his contemporaries of African ancestry, custodian of collectors’ and historical items-bordering on fine and folk arts for public enjoyment and for scholars to assist in researches, ready accessibility of authentic materials and relics on the man referenced, serve as an educational, historical and cultural institution of music and musicality of African origin and entertainment of visitors to the museum.

As said earlier, only legendary musicians have gotten this sort of treatment in the past so Fela now really joins the list of legends not just in spoken terms but hard, statistical terms. In America for instance, Elvis Presley’s residence, Graceland, is a museum that attracts visitors on a yearly basis and keeps earning revenue for the Presley family.

So also Michael Jackson now.

His Neverland Ranch is now a museum and it is already pulling in massive revenue. Suffice it to say that these two American musicians are not the only two whose residences have been converted to museums but they are some of those whose names will keep drawing people forever, so Fela’s addition to that list really proves he’s truly a legend.