Fela would do world music tours and at the end of the shows, some of his band members have been known not to return to Nigeria with him.
The Nigerian Press dubbed Fela ‘Nigeria Airways’ as people believed that once you wanted to ‘japa’ to the Western world, all you needed to do was join the Egypt 80 Fela band.
It was an era where musicians have to travel with the full complement of their band, from drummer to guitarist to pianist, dancers and singers.
As for Fela, he was the leader of the band, there was a band manager that oversees administrative running of the entire band, someone like Benson Idonije comes to mind, then you had a band leader who was the coordinator of the instrumentalists, Baba Ani as band leader comes to mind (Baba Ani had been working with Fela since 1965), then next you had the Instrumentalists consisting of at least twelve horn lines of two baritone saxophones, three alto saxophones, two tenor saxophones, and four trumpets. Felá played the tenor saxophone and the piano (the likes of Tony Allen on the drums, Eddie Aroyewu, Túndé Williams and Biodun Adebiyi on the trumpets, Kéjì Hamilton on the keyboard, Fred Lawal and Yínká Roberts on guitar, Babátúndé Animasaun, Yínnúsà Akinnibosùń on baritone saxophones, Tex Becks and Christopher Uwaifo on tenor saxophone, Fémi Kùtí on alto saxophone, Chris Onuorah on Àkúbà drums and Àbáyòmí Adíò on the congas), another leader was known as Song leader, who lead the vocals section of the band.
You had the singers, dance tutors and dancers. Felas band had its accountant, sound engineer and stage manager.
Information on Fela band sourced from ajol info.
Now you know.
