A powerful photograph from February 1977 captures an unforgettable moment in Nigeria’s history, Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti embracing his lawyer and ally, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, in the aftermath of the brutal military raid on Fela’s Kalakuta Republic.
The raid, ordered by the then-military regime, left the self-declared commune in ruins and resulted in the tragic death of Fela’s mother, Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was thrown from a window.
In the midst of this chaos, Dr. Braithwaite, a fearless human rights lawyer and founder of the Nigerian Advance Party, stood firmly by Fela’s side, leading the legal battle against state oppression.
The embrace between Fela and Braithwaite symbolizes more than personal solidarity; it stands as a timeless image of resistance, unity, and the pursuit of justice in the face of tyranny.
