Fela Kuti
Fela is a man of contradictions. That's what makes him so fascinating. People who love him forgive the parts of him that aren't perfect.
His songs often run for 20 minutes or more, and are sung in a dense, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is inspired by Christian hymns jazz, classical music Yoruba singing, and horn-andguitar heavy highlife.
He was a musician
Fela Kuti embodied the idea that music is an instrument of change. His music was used to advocate for social, political and economic reforms. His influence can be felt today. His musical style, Afrobeat, is a synthesis of African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music as well as funk. However, it has evolved into a new genre.
His political activism was fierce and he took action without fear. fela law firm made use of his music to protest against corruption in the government and human rights abuses. Songs such as "Zombie" and "Coffin for the Head of State" were daring critiques of the Nigerian regime. He also made use of Kalakuta as a venue to gather like-minded people and to promote political activism.
The production features a huge portrait of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a well-known feminist activist and pioneer of the feminist movement. Shantel Cribbs plays her, and she does an excellent job of capturing the importance she played in Fela's life. The play also examines her political activism. Despite her deteriorating health she refused to be checked for AIDS and instead opted for traditional treatment.
He was a musician
Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex person who used music to effect political change. He is famous for his work on afrobeat - a fusion of dirty funk with traditional African rhythms. He was also a constant critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders.
Fela's mother was a suffragist who was anti-colonial and it's not unusual that he has a passion for social commentary and politics. His parents wanted him to become medical doctor, but he had different plans.
A trip to America changed his outlook forever. Exposure to Black power movements and the leaders like Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver would have a profound impact on his music. He adopted the Pan-Africanism philosophy, which would inform and guide his later work.
He was a music producer
While in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. This led him to form an organization called the Movement of the People and compose songs that reflected the thoughts that he held about political activism and black awareness. His ideas were expressed publicly through yabis - a form that he described as "freedom expression". He also began to impose an uncompromising code of ethics for his group, which included refusing to use medications from doctors trained in the West.
Fela returned to Nigeria and began building his own club in Ikeja. Raids from police and military officials were almost every day. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area surrounding the club with hard drug particularly "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Fela kept his integrity in spite of this. His music is a testament to the determination with which he fought authority and demanded that the desires of the masses be reflected in official goals. It is an enduring legacy that will endure for generations.
He was a poet
In his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to draw attention to political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also poked fun at his audience, government, and even himself. He also referred to himself in these shows as "the big dick on the little pond." The authorities were not taking his jokes lightly, and he was frequently detained, imprisoned, and beaten by the authorities. He eventually adopted the name Anikulapo, meaning "he is carrying death in his bag."
In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to mindless zombies that were able to follow orders without hesitation. This irritated the military who seized the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its occupants. During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown out of her second-floor apartment through a window.
Fela developed Afrobeat in the decades that followed the country's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that blends jazz with the indigenous African rhythm. His songs attacked European cultural imperialism and defended African traditional beliefs and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans who sabotaged their nation's traditions. He also stressed the importance of freedom and human rights.
He was an artist of hip-hop.
A trumpeter, saxophonist, composer, and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was inspired by jazz, rock and roll and also traditional African music, chants, and music. After a visit to the United States, Fela met Sandra Smith. She was an activist in the Black Power Movement. Her ideas were influential in his work.
The music of Fela became an instrument of political power upon his return to Nigeria. He criticized the government of his country and also argued against Western sensibilities affecting African culture. He also wrote about social injustices and human right abuses. He was frequently detained for his criticism of military.
Fela also sporadically advocated for the use of marijuana, referred to as "igbo" in Africa. He also held "yabis" (public discussions) at the Afrika Shrine, where he would mock government officials and express his views regarding freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had a group of young women, who performed at his shows and served as vocal backups for him.
He was a dancer
Fela was a master of musical fusion, combining elements from beat music, and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He influenced a generation African musicians and was an outspoken critic of colonial rule.
Fela refused, despite being detained and tortured by the Nigerian military junta as as witnessing the murder of his mother. He died in 1997 from AIDS-related complications.
Fela was a political activist who was a critic of the oppressive Nigerian government and believed in the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums such as 1973's Gentleman, focused on fighting oppression from both colonial and government parties. He also promoted black-power and criticised Christianity, Islam and other non-African influences for dividing the people of Africa. The title track on a 1978 album, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the over-crammed public busses packed with workers "shuffering and smiling." Fela was a fierce opponent of religious hypocrisy. The music of Fela was also complemented by his dancers who were lively elegant, sensual, and beautiful. Their contributions to the performances were as important as Fela's words.
He was a political activist
Fela Kuti was a militant who used music to challenge the unjust authority. He made use of his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African styles and rhythms, resulting in an edgy sound that was prepared for battle. The majority of his songs start as slow-burning instrumentals. He layers little notes, riffs and other elements until they explode with a sense of urgency.
In contrast to many artists who were afraid to publicly discuss their political views, Fela was fearless and uncompromising. He stood up for his beliefs even when it was risky to do so. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist who led the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister and president of the teachers union.
He also founded Kalakuta Republic - a recording studio and commune that was a symbol of the resistance. The government seized the commune, degrading the property and injured Fela badly. He refused to back down, though and continued to speak out against the government. He died in 1997 from complications arising from AIDS. His son Femi continues to carry on his political and musical legacy.
He was a father
Music is often seen as a form of political protest, with artists using lyrics to call for change. Some of the most powerful music demonstrations are not performed with words. Fela Kuti was one such artist and his music is still ringing out today. He was the founder of Afrobeat music, which blends traditional African rhythms and harmonies with jazz and hip-hop, inspired by artists like James Brown.
Fela's mother, Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti was a militant and unionist who fought against colonialism. She helped form the Abeokuta Women's Union and fought against gender-discriminatory taxation laws. She also studied marxism and believed in the idea of a Nigeria that served its all of its citizens.
Fela's son Seun continues his father's work, with a band called Egypt 80 that's touring the world this year. The music of Egypt 80 combines the sounds of Fela with a sharp critique of power structures that still exist today. The new album, Black Times, will be released in March. Many fans attended the funeral and paid tributes at Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so big that police had to block the entrance to the location.