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{{Short description|Nigerian doctor and activist}}
{{Short description|Nigerian doctor and activist (1940–2006)}}
'''Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti''' (2 August 1940 – 10 February 2006) was a [[Nigerians|Nigerian]] physician known for his work as a human rights activist.
'''Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti''' (2 August 1940 – 10 February 2006) was a [[Nigerians|Nigerian]] [[physician]] known for his work as a [[human rights]] [[Activism|activist]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Ransome-Kuti was born in [[Abeokuta]], [[Nigeria]]. His mother [[Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti]] opposed indiscriminate taxation of women by the [[United Kingdom|British]] colonial government. She helped negotiate [[Nigeria#Post-independence|Nigerian independence]] from Britain and is said to have been the first Nigerian woman to drive a car.<ref name="Guardian obituary">Shola Adenekan, [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/15/guardianobituaries.mainsection "Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti – Nigerian doctor, bold human rights campaigner and prisoner of conscience" (obituary)], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 15 February 2006.</ref> His father [[Oludotun Ransome-Kuti]] was an [[Anglican]] priest and co-founder of the [[Nigeria Union of Teachers]].<ref name="Guardian obituary" /> One of his brothers, [[Fela Kuti]], was a musician and [[Activism|activist]] who founded [[Afrobeat]]; another, [[Olikoye Ransome-Kuti]], was also a [[physician]] and an [[AIDS]] campaigner.<ref name="Guardian obituary" /> Beko's son, [[Enitan Ransome-Kuti|Enitan]], is a serving Nigerian Army Senior Officer who was once the Commander of the [[Multinational Joint Task Force]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-17|title=On Fela's birthday, his nephew, Enitan, is dismissed from the Nigerian army|url=https://www.thecable.ng/felas-birthday-nephew-enitan-dismissed-army|access-date=2021-02-03|website=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref>
Ransome-Kuti was born in [[Abeokuta]], [[Nigeria]]. His mother [[Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti]] opposed indiscriminate taxation of women by the [[United Kingdom|British]] colonial government. She helped negotiate [[Nigeria#Post-independence|Nigerian independence]] from Britain and is said to have been the first Nigerian woman to drive a car.<ref name="Guardian obituary">Shola Adenekan, [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/15/guardianobituaries.mainsection "Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti – Nigerian doctor, bold human rights campaigner and prisoner of conscience" (obituary)], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 15 February 2006.</ref> His father [[Oludotun Ransome-Kuti]] was an [[Anglican]] priest and co-founder of the [[Nigeria Union of Teachers]].<ref name="Guardian obituary" /> One of his brothers, [[Fela Kuti]], was a musician and [[Activism|activist]] who founded [[Afrobeat]]; another, [[Olikoye Ransome-Kuti]], was also a [[physician]] and an [[AIDS]] campaigner.<ref name="Guardian obituary" /> Beko's son, [[Enitan Ransome-Kuti|Enitan]], served in the Nigerian Army and was once the Commander of the [[Multinational Joint Task Force]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-17|title=On Fela's birthday, his nephew, Enitan, is dismissed from the Nigerian army|url=https://www.thecable.ng/felas-birthday-nephew-enitan-dismissed-army|access-date=2021-02-03|website=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref>


Ransome-Kuti attended [[Abeokuta]] Grammar School, [[Coventry Technical College]], and [[Manchester University]], where he became a physician.<ref name="Guardian obituary" />
Ransome-Kuti attended [[Abeokuta]] Grammar School, [[Coventry Technical College]], and [[Manchester University]], where he became a physician.<ref name="Guardian obituary" />


==Career and activism==
==Career and activism==
Ransome-Kuti returned to Nigeria in 1963 upon obtaining his degree. He was deeply affected by the events of 1977 when soldiers under the orders of [[Theophilus Danjuma|T. Y. Danjuma]]'s military government stormed his brother [[Fela Kuti]]'s<ref>[http://www.afrobeatmusic.net/html/fela_bio.html Biography of Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938–1997)]. ''The Shrine'' website.</ref> nightclub, destroyed his medical clinic and killed his mother. He became chairman of the [[Lagos]] branch of the [[Nigerian Medical Association]] and its national deputy, campaigning against the lack of drugs in hospitals.
Ransome-Kuti returned to Nigeria in 1963 upon obtaining his degree. He was deeply affected by the events of 1977, when soldiers under the orders of [[Theophilus Danjuma|T. Y. Danjuma]], then Chief of Army staff, stormed his brother [[Fela Kuti]]'s<ref>[http://www.afrobeatmusic.net/html/fela_bio.html Biography of Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938–1997)]. ''The Shrine'' website.</ref> nightclub, destroyed his medical clinic and killed his mother. He became chairman of the [[Lagos]] branch of the [[Nigerian Medical Association]] and its national deputy, campaigning against the lack of drugs in hospitals.


In 1984, Fela was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the government of General [[Muhammadu Buhari]].<ref name="Guardian obituary" /> Ransome-Kuti was also jailed, and his medical association was banned.<ref name=Independent>Patrick Smith, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110218213513/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dr-beko-ransomekuti-466553.html "Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti – Nigerian human rights campaigner" (obituary)], ''[[The Independent]]'', 14 February 2006.</ref> He was released in 1985 when Buhari was deposed by General [[Ibrahim Babangida]]; Babangida then invited him to participate in the government.<ref>[[Falola, Toyin]] and Matthew M. Heaton. ''A History of Nigeria'', p. 217.</ref>
In 1984, Fela was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the government of General [[Muhammadu Buhari]].<ref name="Guardian obituary" /> Ransome-Kuti was also jailed, and his medical association was banned.<ref name=Independent>Patrick Smith, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110218213513/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dr-beko-ransomekuti-466553.html "Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti – Nigerian human rights campaigner" (obituary)], ''[[The Independent]]'', 14 February 2006.</ref> He was released in 1985 when Buhari was deposed by General [[Ibrahim Babangida]]; Babangida then invited him to participate in the government.<ref>[[Falola, Toyin]] and Matthew M. Heaton. ''A History of Nigeria'', p. 217.</ref>


Ransome-Kuti helped to form Nigeria's first human rights organization, the [[Campaign for Democracy]], which in 1993 opposed the dictatorship of General [[Sani Abacha]]. In 1995, a military tribunal sentenced him to life in prison for bringing the mock trial of [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] to the attention of the world.<ref name=Independent /> He was adopted as a [[prisoner of conscience]] by [[Amnesty International]]<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR44/021/1995/en "Nigeria: Medical concern: Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti"], Amnesty International, 18 September 1995.</ref> and freed in 1998 following the death of [[Sani Abacha]].<ref name=Independent />
Ransome-Kuti helped to form Nigeria's first human rights organisation, the [[Campaign for Democracy]], which in 1993 opposed the dictatorship of General [[Sani Abacha]]. In 1995, a military tribunal sentenced him to life in prison for bringing the mock trial of [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] to the attention of the world.<ref name=Independent /> He was adopted as a [[prisoner of conscience]] by [[Amnesty International]]<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR44/021/1995/en "Nigeria: Medical concern: Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti"], Amnesty International, 18 September 1995.</ref> and freed in 1998 following the death of [[Sani Abacha]].<ref name=Independent />


Ransome-Kuti was a fellow of the West African College of Physicians and Surgeons, a leading figure in the British Commonwealth's human rights committee, chair of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights and executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance.<ref name="Guardian obituary" />
Ransome-Kuti was a fellow of the West African College of Physicians and Surgeons, a leading figure in the British Commonwealth's human rights committee, chair of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights and executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance.<ref name="Guardian obituary" />


==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==
Ransome-Kuti died from complications of [[lung cancer]] on 10 February 2006, aged 65, at approximately 11:20 P.M. at the [[Lagos University Teaching Hospital]], Idi-Araba, [[Lagos]], Nigeria.<ref>Sola Ogundiper, Lekan Bilesanmi and Abel Kolawole, [http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f112022006.html "How Beko Ransome-Kuti died, by daughter"]. Obituary in ''Vanguard'', 12 February 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616103134/http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f112022006.html |date=June 16, 2006 }}</ref> The state government honoured him with a statue in 2010<ref>Lamidi Bamidele, [http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/02/lagos-honours-late-beko-ransome-kuti-unveils-statue/ "Lagos honours late Beko Ransome-Kuti, unveils statue"], ''Vanguard'', 11 February 2010.</ref> and a park, the [[Beko Ransome-Kuti Park]], was named in his honour.
Ransome-Kuti died from complications of [[lung cancer]] on 10 February 2006, aged 65, at approximately 11:20 p.m. at the [[Lagos University Teaching Hospital]], Idi-Araba, [[Lagos]], Nigeria.<ref>Sola Ogundiper, Lekan Bilesanmi and Abel Kolawole, [http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f112022006.html "How Beko Ransome-Kuti died, by daughter"]. Obituary in ''Vanguard'', 12 February 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616103134/http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f112022006.html |date=June 16, 2006 }}</ref> The state government honoured him with a statue in 2010<ref>Lamidi Bamidele, [http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/02/lagos-honours-late-beko-ransome-kuti-unveils-statue/ "Lagos honours late Beko Ransome-Kuti, unveils statue"], ''Vanguard'', 11 February 2010.</ref> and a park, the [[Beko Ransome-Kuti Park]], was named in his honour.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:People from Abeokuta]]
[[Category:People from Abeokuta]]
[[Category:Amnesty International prisoners of conscience held by Nigeria]]
[[Category:Amnesty International prisoners of conscience held by Nigeria]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Nigeria]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in Nigeria]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer]]
[[Category:Nigerian activists]]
[[Category:Nigerian activists]]
[[Category:Yoruba activists]]
[[Category:Yoruba activists]]

Latest revision as of 16:57, 23 June 2024

Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti (2 August 1940 – 10 February 2006) was a Nigerian physician known for his work as a human rights activist.

Early life

[edit]

Ransome-Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria. His mother Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti opposed indiscriminate taxation of women by the British colonial government. She helped negotiate Nigerian independence from Britain and is said to have been the first Nigerian woman to drive a car.[1] His father Oludotun Ransome-Kuti was an Anglican priest and co-founder of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.[1] One of his brothers, Fela Kuti, was a musician and activist who founded Afrobeat; another, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, was also a physician and an AIDS campaigner.[1] Beko's son, Enitan, served in the Nigerian Army and was once the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force.[2]

Ransome-Kuti attended Abeokuta Grammar School, Coventry Technical College, and Manchester University, where he became a physician.[1]

Career and activism

[edit]

Ransome-Kuti returned to Nigeria in 1963 upon obtaining his degree. He was deeply affected by the events of 1977, when soldiers under the orders of T. Y. Danjuma, then Chief of Army staff, stormed his brother Fela Kuti's[3] nightclub, destroyed his medical clinic and killed his mother. He became chairman of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Medical Association and its national deputy, campaigning against the lack of drugs in hospitals.

In 1984, Fela was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the government of General Muhammadu Buhari.[1] Ransome-Kuti was also jailed, and his medical association was banned.[4] He was released in 1985 when Buhari was deposed by General Ibrahim Babangida; Babangida then invited him to participate in the government.[5]

Ransome-Kuti helped to form Nigeria's first human rights organisation, the Campaign for Democracy, which in 1993 opposed the dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. In 1995, a military tribunal sentenced him to life in prison for bringing the mock trial of Olusegun Obasanjo to the attention of the world.[4] He was adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International[6] and freed in 1998 following the death of Sani Abacha.[4]

Ransome-Kuti was a fellow of the West African College of Physicians and Surgeons, a leading figure in the British Commonwealth's human rights committee, chair of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights and executive director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance.[1]

Death and legacy

[edit]

Ransome-Kuti died from complications of lung cancer on 10 February 2006, aged 65, at approximately 11:20 p.m. at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.[7] The state government honoured him with a statue in 2010[8] and a park, the Beko Ransome-Kuti Park, was named in his honour.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Shola Adenekan, "Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti – Nigerian doctor, bold human rights campaigner and prisoner of conscience" (obituary), The Guardian, 15 February 2006.
  2. ^ "On Fela's birthday, his nephew, Enitan, is dismissed from the Nigerian army". TheCable. 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  3. ^ Biography of Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938–1997). The Shrine website.
  4. ^ a b c Patrick Smith, "Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti – Nigerian human rights campaigner" (obituary), The Independent, 14 February 2006.
  5. ^ Falola, Toyin and Matthew M. Heaton. A History of Nigeria, p. 217.
  6. ^ "Nigeria: Medical concern: Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti", Amnesty International, 18 September 1995.
  7. ^ Sola Ogundiper, Lekan Bilesanmi and Abel Kolawole, "How Beko Ransome-Kuti died, by daughter". Obituary in Vanguard, 12 February 2006. Archived June 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Lamidi Bamidele, "Lagos honours late Beko Ransome-Kuti, unveils statue", Vanguard, 11 February 2010.
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