One of the children of popular Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, Folarin speaks on the other side of his father in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI
What does it feel like to be the son of a popular lawyer like Femi Falana?
I feel great because it is a great privilege to be born into the Falana family and to be the son of such a great Nigerian. It is a great honour and I am glad to be his son.
What do you think makes your father special?
He is a symbol of one who dedicates all for a great Nigeria. He has always been speaking out against injustice and in defence of the oppressed. To be associated with such a figure, will make anyone to be proud.
Who is Femi Falana as a father?
He is a very kind father, caring and very understanding. He is also incredibly busy, most of the time he is always away from home.
Is there anything you missed while growing up since he was often away?
We missed everything associated with his presence around us. Definitely, we would have loved to have him around more because on several occasions, he was clamped in detention during the military era.
How did the children react to his incarceration by the military?
We were very young then so we really never knew what was going on. Sometimes my mother would tell us that our father had travelled. It was later we realised that most of those times, he was actually in detention. But each time he returned he would greet us and buy things for us to eat. We were always happy to have him back.
What punishment did he give when any of you erred in those days?
As a very busy man, he was hardly around. We saw more of our mother when we were growing up. She was a tough mother who enforced discipline in the house. She would probably be the one to whip us when we erred. But anytime my father was around, he would not beat us if we messed up. He would sit us down and talk to us. He would not shout at us but his words were stronger than being punished.
Can you remember some of the things he said in such situations?
He would talk to us in such a way that the offender would know that he or she had done something wrong. I cannot recall any day he ever beat any of us when we did something wrong. His words were strong enough to warn you from repeating doing anything wrong.
Are there qualities his children took from him?
There are many of them. He is very resilient, determined, focused and hardworking. But I must say the most important thing we learnt from him is hard work because that is what is responsible for whatever he is today. He is a very hardworking man and his children have seen this in his person, world and profession. We have imbibed this quality in our personal lives and careers.
There must be something special he taught you to do.
He is a good table tennis player. He taught me how to play the game but I am a better player now. I beat him whenever he manages to find time to play.
Did he influence your choice of becoming a lawyer?
My parents influenced my choice of study. They are lawyers and while I was in primary and secondary schools, people were already calling me ‘The Law.’ So, I was already nursing the ambition of becoming a lawyer when I was a pupil. My elder sister also studied law. I had started thinking law even before I travelled abroad to study.
Did your father’s success as a lawyer play a role in this?
I think his success did have a hand in it. In school, I discovered that I loved art-related subjects than science subjects.
Your father is a renowned activist who does not fear speaking against the government. Does he exhibit those traits at home?
His political views and activities outside the family end away from home. At home, he is not an activist. It’s strange to know that he lives a contrasting life compared to what many people outside know about him. He is extremely relaxed at home and often cracks jokes and feels relaxed with his family. It is only when he is on his job that he puts on another character. To the children, he is a funny family man.
How does he unwind from the stress of activism?
My father hardly relaxes. One thing I know about him is that he is always studying one thing or the other. But occasionally, when he gets a little time to relax, he watches television.
What kind of programmes does he watch?
He listens to the news, especially current affairs. Occasionally he watches football. But he is not a religious follower of football. He also watches Nigerian films because my mother is a big fan of the industry. So, in such moments, they usually watch the films together.
How do you feel seeing your father taking on government?
Since he is doing that with all honesty and love for his country, I usually feel great. What he is doing is a very good thing and it has always been in him. He has always spoken against injustice, misrule and violation of human rights.
In what way have you profited from his name?
There are many instances. When my friends found out that Falana was my father, they would say, ‘So you are Femi Falana’s son and you did not tell us?’ I always asked if I was supposed to go about telling people that I am his son. The reception I get being associated with him is often great. But most times people do not know we are his children but once they do, they accord us great privileges because he is a very good man.
After studying law, did your father tell you to work in his chamber?
He did not do anything like that. I made the decision to work in his chamber because I felt the environment would be comfortable to practice law especially being with my parents who are lawyers.
I felt who would be a better teacher of procedural practice in law than my father? He has never forced anything on us. My father does not ask questions about his children’s private lives because they are adults and responsible. He is a liberal. He respects other people’s views even if he does not agree with them.
Does it mean you cannot practice law elsewhere?
Definitely, I can learn it anywhere. But from my point of view, the most comfortable and suitable environment to practice is in my parents’ chambers.
How much did he agree to pay you for working in his chamber?
I did not even think about that. My joy is that I am happy working with him.
Payment is a private issue.
Well, we agreed on something good. It is good enough.
Apart from being a lawyer, you are also a singer. Does your father listen to your music?
He likes music but he prefers to listen to oldies. He listens to the songs of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti. He has a complete compilation of Fela’s record.
How does he react to the music?
He sometimes dances to the tune.
How did he react to your decision to be a hip-hop singer while schooling abroad?
Surprisingly, he had nothing against it. I think somebody must have told him about it. He just asked me when he came to the UK jokingly when I started singing. I played my first official single titled, Shakara, to him and he just said, ‘You musicians of nowadays are not serious.’
He did not say more than that. It was my mother who reacted when she heard that I sing. I actually started in secondary school.
How does he respond to any misunderstanding with your mother?
My father is a very composed man. He is never in shock when things happen. My parents understand themselves and they have fantastic level of tolerance so they usually know how to settle any misunderstanding which is often rare anyway.
What is his view about his children’s’ choice of friends?
He does not bother about who we associate with because he knows we will not relate with bad people. We were well-trained and this is what guides us.
How often does he attend parties?
He is not much of party person. But if any of his close friends has a social function or event, he will attend. But as a person, he rarely attends social functions.