By Adesoba Toluwalope
Veteran Nigerian singer, Onyeka Onwenu, has revealed that legend, Femi Kuti Anikulapo had proposed wedding to her in the eighties which she refused.
Onyeka revealed this in her new autobiography, titled ‘My Father’s Daughter’.
Onyeka revealed she rejected Fela’s proposal because of his love for women. Fela’s best hobby involved frolicking with so many women during his time.
She further revealed that she is a jealous lover and she doesn’t love to share, hence her rejection.
In her autobiography, Onyeka wrote: “The second time I saw Fela was in 1984, a few years after I had returned from the United States. He had just been released from jail.
“He was arrested for attempting to travel with his band for a gig in London with the sum of 1,600 pounds for their hotel accommodation. At the time, carrying any amount of foreign currency was against one of the many decrees promulgated by the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta.
“After he was released from prison, Fela sent a mutual friend, the journalist – Onuorah Udenwa, who is now a US-based pastor, to bring me to his club. I thought that he probably wanted to thank me for speaking up for him, but that was not it.
“He never even mentioned the article I had written in solidarity with him. Fela wanted to marry me, and I was flattered. I thanked him for the honour of wanting me to become his consort, but I turned him down all the same.”
The music legend also added that she couldn’t bear with the disturbing looks and muttering words she got from the women while she visited the music legend. Onyeka stated that they were cruel to her and she didn’t want to experience that.
“They passed by often, whispering comments about me. They were downright hostile and quite obvious about it.
“I pointed this out to him and told him that I was a possessive lover and would not be able to cope as an appendage to his harem but Fela laughed,” she said.
