History is a jumble of accidents, blunders, surprises, and absurdities, and so is our knowledge of it, according to historian Henry Steele Commager (1902–1998), but if we are to record it at all, we must impose some order onto it.
When we look back or reflect on the past, it’s not because we are happy or excited about the tragic events or stories; rather, we do it for educational and life-lesson purposes.
In an effort to close the gap in historical documentation and for educational purposes, WITHIN NIGERIA has highlighted six significant historical events that occurred on February 18th in Nigeria.
Destruction of Fela’s home, Kalakuta Republic
More than 1,000 armed soldiers encircled the property on this day in 1977, destroyed the generator, and brutally treated the residents.
14th February: Today in Nigeria history, Omar al-Bashir welcomed in Nigeria despite ICC’s arrest order, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala accused of stealing $1bn; other events
13th February: Today in Nigeria history, General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated; other tragic events
Legendary Afrobeats musician Fela claimed that he was beaten and dragged out of the main house by his genitalia. He only managed to survive thanks to the intervention of a commanding officer.
Many women allegedly were raped, and Funmilayo, Fela’s 78-year-old mother, was reportedly killed after being thrown through a window of a storey building.
