I nearly went mad after smoking weed with Fela Kuti – Pat Thomas

Legendary Highlife musician, Pat Thomas has disclosed he almost went mad after smoking marijuana with Fela Kuti in Nigeria.

In a recent interview with the 3FM team on July 25, 2023, the renowned singer recounted a memorable experience with Fela Kuti during a visit to Nigeria.

During his visit to Nigeria, Thomas was accompanied by his manager and close friend, Sunny, who had connections with the iconic Fela Kuti. Sunny took Thomas to the musician’s club before inviting him to Fela’s residence the following day.

The meeting at Fela’s house must have been an unforgettable experience for Pat Thomas, who found himself stepping into the world of Fela, a man known for his unapologetic advocacy of African culture and his unabashed use of marijuana.

Thomas recalled the experience with enthusiasm, reminiscing about how Fela introduced him to a special variety of marijuana known as “Fela Goro.”

He recounted, “As Fela saw me, he took one, and then he gave me one (weed). My manager told me, ‘charley try some.’ I was hesitant, but I wanted to show solidarity with Fela, so I decided to give it a try. However, the moment I smoked, I felt dizzy badly, but Fela was just smoking away, and I almost felt like I was going mad.”