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

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Daniel Lanois

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.