Fela in Fragments (2025)

This headless painting of Fela Kuti symbolizes his sacrifice for Nigeria, with the missing head representing how he gave his voice, body, and life to the nation. His emaciated body reflects the toll Nigeria took on him, draining him emotionally and physically through years of political repression, imprisonment, and personal loss. The bandages loosely wrapped around his figure signify the self-imposed bondage Nigeria suffers from — not tied by external forces, but by a lack of collective will and unity to overcome internal struggles. The unfinished nature of the painting reflects Fela’s early death, symbolizing the untapped potential and unresolved struggles he left behind, both in his life and in the country he fought so hard to change.