Keep Nigeria One

Album: single release only (1969)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to Tejumola Olaniyan in Arrest the Music! Fela and His Rebel Art and Politics, during the Biafran War, record promoter Duke Lumumba came up with the idea of recording a pro-government record "just so we could get some bread, man."

    Fela wrote "Keep Nigeria One," Lumumba got $2,500 from an elderly backer, and told him "Fela, I have to make just one record that the Nigerian government will like, just in case the government will want to back the band."

    Fela's response was, "So we made this tune. It was just bulls--t", adding "I feel so bad about that record now; I was on Biafra's side." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.