The passing of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti on August 2, 1997, has not only left a gaping hole in Nigeria’s cultural and musical landscape but has also triggered a surprising development in public health awareness: a sudden surge in the sale and use of condoms across the country.
Reports from major cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Kano indicate that pharmacies and patent medicine stores are recording unprecedented patronage for prophylactics, barely two weeks after the icon’s death was officially announced.
Cause of Death and Its Ripple Effects
Fela, who had long been a fearless critic of government policies and a voice for the oppressed, died from complications associated with AIDS-related illness, according to his elder brother, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, former Minister of Health.
The revelation sent shockwaves across Nigeria. Many fans, who had admired the legendary musician not just for his music but also for his flamboyant lifestyle and unapologetic embrace of polygamy and sexual freedom, were confronted with the stark reality of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Health experts say the late musician’s death has inadvertently become a public health campaign in itself, pushing many—especially young people—to rethink risky sexual behaviors.
Pharmacies Struggle to Meet Demand
Weekend Concord correspondents who toured several pharmacies in Lagos reported that demand for condoms has skyrocketed since the announcement.
At a popular drugstore in Yaba, a pharmacist revealed:
“Before Fela’s death, we used to sell about 10 to 15 packets of condoms in a week. Now, in just two days, we’ve sold nearly 100. Young people are trooping in daily asking for ‘protection.’ It is unprecedented.”
Another chemist in Surulere added:
“It seems people are finally realizing that HIV is real. If someone as strong and fearless as Fela could die of AIDS, then no one is immune.”
Government and NGOs React
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and several non-governmental organizations working on HIV/AIDS awareness have welcomed this unexpected behavioral shift.
Dr. Akin Abayomi, a public health physician, noted:
“For years we have struggled to convince Nigerians, especially the youth, about the importance of safe sex. Ironically, Fela’s death has done more to drive the message home than many of our official campaigns.”
The Society for Family Health (SFH), which distributes condoms nationwide, confirmed a 40% rise in sales within the last two weeks. Street hawkers, who previously found condoms difficult to sell, are now adding them to their trays of wares, especially in nightlife hubs around Lagos.
Mixed Reactions from the Public
While many young Nigerians now see condoms as a necessary tool for survival, others remain skeptical. Some religious leaders argue that the focus should be on abstinence and fidelity rather than widespread condom use.
However, among university students, taxi drivers, and traders, there is a growing acceptance that “no glove, no love” may be the best way forward.
Fela’s Legacy Beyond Music
Ironically, in death, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti may have achieved what health educators and government campaigns struggled to do for years: jolt Nigerians into confronting the reality of HIV/AIDS.
Though his critics condemned his lifestyle, no one can deny that the Afrobeat maestro’s death has become a turning point in Nigeria’s sexual health discourse. The man who sang against oppression and hypocrisy in government is now, posthumously, sparking a new awareness on safe sex.
As one of his fans in Ikeja told Weekend Concord:
“Fela fought against corruption when he was alive. Now, even in death, he is fighting ignorance about AIDS.”
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