Legendary Highlife musician, Pat Thomas has divulged how he almost went bananas after he took a toke of marijuana with the late Fela Kuti in Nigeria during a travel to the country.
Appearing on Accra-based radio station, 3FM, on July 25, 2023, the veteran Pat Thomas described the memorable episode to Nigeria with his manager and close pal, Sunny, who happened to have connections with none other than the iconic controversial afrobeat musician Fela Kuti.
“I remember I went to Fela’s house in Nigeria, myself and a friend who was managing me, his name is Sunny, a very good friend of Fela. And it happened that he took me to Nigeria, we went to Fela’s club, and the next day he took me to the house, and it is this weed that I am talking about, you know Fela had something they call Fela Goro,” Pat Thomas vividly recollected.
The encounter at Fela’s residence must have been a memorable experience for Pat Thomas, who found himself stepping into the realms of Fela, a fella known for his unapologetic advocacy of African culture and his unabashed use of marijuana.
The bliss in Pat Thomas’ voice was noticeable as he proceeded, “So, as Fela saw me, he took one, and then he gave me one (weed). My manager told me, ‘Charley try some.’ Charley, me this thing, I fear, but I wanted to show guy guy to Fela that me too, adey smoke. So, the moment I smoked, what happened to me, I wished you were there, I was feeling dizzy badly, but he was just smoking, and I nearly went mad.”
The ‘Mensei Da ’ vocalist is arranged to perform at the “Pat Thomas Highlife Night” which is slated for August 4, 2023, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
© 2023 • Story By Edem Latsu Nukafu
Writer’s email:edemlatsu093@gmail.com
