Omosalewa Kuti, the third daughter of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, clocked 45 on October 14, 2021.
Writing in an Instagram post on her birthday, Omosalewa, better known as Shalewa or DJ Shaarks, said “A Queen was born today! Happy birthday to the goddess of them all.
“I want happiness, not only for myself, for everyone.”
Her elder sister Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti wrote in her own Instagram post: Happy birthday dear beautiful Shalewa. Wish you the best today and always. Welcome back.”
The Afrika Shrine, managed by Yeni, also sent birthday greeting to the daughter of the man behind its creation.
“The management and staff of the New Afrika Shrine celebrate with Shalewa Anikulapo-Kuti (world-famous DJ Shaarks) We wish you all the best as you mark another year. Egbe egbe wain wain!!!!!!! Please celebrate with us,” a statement on the entertainment and culture hub’s Instagram page read.
Below are nine things to know about Shalewa
1 She is a qualified lawyer but works mostly as a DJ.
2 Born in 1976, she is the fifth of Fela’s children.
3 Her older siblings are Yeni, Femi, Sola and Kunle Anikulapo-Kuti.
4 Sola died in 1997, a few weeks after her dad, making Shalewa Fela’s second surviving daughter.
5 Her younger siblings are Motunrayo and Seun Anikulapo-Kuti.
6 Shalewa studied mass communication at the Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic), and law at the University of Lagos before she left Nigeria for the UK.
7 She is the founder of music production outfit Shaarks Music.
8 Shalewa does not sing or play a musical instrument like her brothers Femi and Seun or dance like sisters Yeni and late Sola but says being a female DJ is part of upholding Fela’s legacy.
9 Her father Fela, who was born on October 15, 1938 and died on August 2, 1997, would have clocked 83 the day after Shalewa’s 45th birthday if he had been alive.
