Meet Fela's father. Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti (1891-1955) Eminent Nigerian churchman, educationist and administrator, he was the founding president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Africa's largest professional group. He was born on 30 April 1891, to an Egba family in Abeokuta.
In 1928 while passing through the then colonial military settlement within Abeokuta,he was asked to remove his hat as he walked past the British Flag. He bluntly refused, and in the process of removing his hat under the threat of a bayonet by a solider,Rev Kuti almost lost an eye.
He created a massive uproar after this incident, which compelled the authorities to relocate the military barracks from the main town to Lafenwa, on the outskirts of Abeokuta, where it remained till date.
Source: Nigeria Stories.
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