Fran Kuboye
Frances Kuboye | |
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| Birth name | Frances Opeolu Folorunsho |
| Born | 22 October 1949 England |
| Died | 21 August 1997 (aged 47) Lagos, Nigeria |
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| Years active | 1978–1997 |
Frances kuboye (born October 22, 1949) was a Nigerian singer, dentist,TV personality and women rights activist, she co-founded the Jazz 38 club in Lagos and the extended family jazz band. She was born into the Ransome-kuti family, she is the granddaughter of Funmilayo ransome kuti and Niece to Fela Kuti.
Background, education and career
Frances was born in England to the Ransome-Kuti family of late Prof. Olikoye, Fela, Beko and their sister called Dolupo Ransome Kuti who is Frances's mother. Frances kuboye was named after her grandmother, Funmilayo Frances Ransome Kuti.
Dr. Frances did her primary education at Clifton Church of England School, Carnforth and Lancashire Church of England School. She did her secondary education at Lancaster Girls Grammar School, England, she later moved to Skipton Girls High School where she completed her secondary education. She later acquired a degree as a dental surgeon in 1974 from the Sheffield University.
Frances Kuboye relocated to Nigeria in 1977, she got into music a year later in 1978 then she co-founded the Jazz 38 club with the extended family jazz band led by she and her husband Tunde Kuboye, the venue later became the most popular jazz hub in Nigeria where Fela Kuti and his son Femi Anikulapo-Kuti occasionally performed as guest artistes.[1]
The extended family band members were reputed to be the pioneers of Jazz music in Nigeria and they were the first in the country to release an album on compact disc.[2]
Frances who was also a TV presenter was known for hosting the arts segment of the Sunday Show with Levi Chibuike Ajuonuma. She also acted as a talent judge on several musical contest shows. Like her grandmother, Fran championed and advocated for women's rights in the society . She started a non profit organization with Yemisi Ransome Kuti called "Girl Watch" to empower less privileged secondary school students on gender equality and social abnormalities in the African culture. Frances who was also an arts painter Used arts and crafts to educate young female students about the dangers of female genital mutilation and also the importance of getting educated to achieve gender equality.
Death
Frances Kuboye died on the 21st August 1997 after a brief illness. Her untimely death came as a shock to everyone as it occurred just a few days after the death of her uncle Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Few months after she was buried, her cousin Sola Anikulapo Kuti also passed away. This meant 3 deaths in the family in 1997.[3]
Family
Frances was married to Tunde kuboye and they had a son together, Baba Kuboye.[4]
References
- ^ Emmanuel, Daniji. "FRANCES KUBOYE's Family Set For 20 Year Remembrance – City People Magazine". Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- ^ vanguard (2015-03-06). "Missing Tunde Kuboye and the Extended Family band". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- ^ "Remembering Fran Kuboye 19 years after her death". Linda Ikeji's Blog. 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
- ^ "Baba Kuboye releases Yawa". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2022-11-15.