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The Message of Zombie
Zombie criticizes Nigeria’s military by comparing soldiers to mindless “zombies” who blindly follow commands. Fela uses simple but powerful lyrics to paint a picture of soldiers being sent on orders to “go and die,” “go and kill,” and obey without question. By likening soldiers to zombies, Fela was challenging not just the military, but the authoritarian nature of Nigeria’s leadership at the time, which was ruled by General Olusegun Obasanjo. The military regime had a stronghold on Nigerian society, and obedience was enforced without regard for individual thought or ethics. This kind of blind loyalty was precisely what Fela was fighting against, as he believed it enabled corruption and abuse of power.

The Public Reaction
For many Nigerians, Zombie was a revelation. The song’s blunt message and Afrobeat rhythm quickly turned it into an anthem of resistance. It resonated with a society frustrated by years of military rule and yearning for freedom. Nigerians began to see the military not as protectors, but as enforcers of an oppressive regime. Zombie became a symbol of defiance, sparking discussions in homes, workplaces, and social gatherings across the country. This widespread appeal made Zombie more than just a song; it became a rallying cry for people tired of corruption and abuse.

The military government, however, saw Zombie as a dangerous provocation. In their eyes, Fela’s critique threatened the respect and authority they commanded. The song became widely popular, but this popularity only intensified the government’s response to Fela and his music.
The Brutal Backlash from the Government
The government’s reaction to Zombie was swift and brutal. In 1977, in an attempt to silence Fela and punish him for his defiance, approximately 1,000 soldiers raided his commune, the Kalakuta Republic. This wasn’t just a home but a community that included his family, band members, and supporters. During the raid, soldiers burned down the commune, destroyed Fela’s belongings, and assaulted its residents.
The attack was personal and devastating. Fela’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a well-respected political activist, was thrown from a window, sustaining injuries that would lead to her death shortly afterward. The brutality of the attack shocked the nation and cemented Fela’s image as a courageous resistor in the face of oppression.
Fela’s response was to double down on his message. He organized a symbolic procession where he and his followers carried a coffin to the residence of the then-head of state, Obasanjo, marking a powerful act of defiance. This act and the memory of the attack on Kalakuta became etched in the minds of Nigerians, further embedding Zombie as a landmark in Nigeria’s resistance history.
The Legacy of Zombie and Its Uproar

Despite the efforts to suppress it, Zombie survived and became a permanent fixture in African music history. Fela’s courage inspired countless others to question authority and speak up against injustice. Even today, Zombie remains a powerful reminder of the cost of resistance and the enduring impact of art in challenging oppression.
In the 1970s, Fela Kuti’s Zombie was much more than music—it was a catalyst for social change and a testament to the power of art to disrupt and inspire. Through this song, Fela gave Nigerians the voice and courage to question authority, and its influence still resonates in Nigerian culture and political discourse to this day.















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