Letter: Indian hemp in Africa

Indian hemp in Africa

Sir: You report (17 April) that Nigeria's anti-narcotics agency (which must have better things to do given the incidence of Nigerian dealers and couriers in the international market) has charged the musician and nationalist Fela Anikulapo Kuti with drug offences.

Nigeria has a military government. Two generations of soldiers have objected to the lyrics of some of his songs urging the army to march back to barracks . A different set of generals was in command in the late Seventies when he appeared in court accused of smoking "Indian hemp". I recall that on that occasion he declined even to answer the charge unless it was changed to "original African grass". They locked him up anyway.

EDWARD POULTNEY

London SE18