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Anikulapo

Anikulapo is a Yoruba term and name associated with a legendary and symbolic meaning in Nigerian culture. In its most common usage, Anikulapo translates roughly to “one who holds death in his pouch” or “one who carries death,” and it is used as a title or nickname that suggests power or control over fate and mortality.

Etymology and meaning are rooted in Yoruba language and storytelling traditions. The phrase combines elements that

The most widely known bearer of the title in popular culture is the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti,

In recent years, Anikulapo has also appeared in film and literature. In 2022, a Yoruba-language Nigerian film

See also: Yoruba language and naming practices; Fela Kuti; death in Yoruba mythology.

imply
possessing
or
containing
death,
a
concept
tied
to
myth,
spirituality,
and
authority
rather
than
literal
threat.
As
a
name,
Anikulapo
carries
connotations
of
resilience,
destiny,
and
the
ability
to
navigate
life
and
death.
who
adopted
the
epithet
as
part
of
his
stage
name:
Fela
Anikulapo
Kuti.
The
addition
of
Anikulapo
to
his
name
signified
a
spiritual
or
symbolic
status
and
has
been
referenced
in
discussions
of
his
life
and
work,
alongside
his
influential
development
of
the
Afrobeat
genre.
titled
Anikulapo,
directed
by
Kunle
Afolayan,
drew
on
Yoruba
mythology
and
themes
related
to
mortality
and
fate.
The
film
contributed
to
ongoing
interest
in
the
term
within
contemporary
media
and
popular
culture.