Fela Kuti
Fela is a man with contradictions. That's why he's so intriguing. People who love him are able to overlook his shortcomings.
His songs can last up to 20 minutes, and are performed in thick, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is influenced by Christian hymns, jazz, classical music, Yoruba music, chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife.
He was a musician
Fela Kuti embodied that music can be used to transform the world. He utilized his music to call for changes in the political and social spheres and his influence is still evident in the world of even today. Afrobeat is a style of music that combines African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music and funk. However it has evolved into a new genre.
His political activism was fierce and he took action without fear. He used his music as a protest against corruption in the government and human rights violations. Songs like "Zombie" and "Coffin for the Head of State" were daring criticisms of the Nigerian regime. He also used Kalakuta as a place to connect with like-minded individuals and to promote political activism.
The play features a huge portrait of his mother, who died in the past Funmilayo ransome-Kuti. She was a renowned feminist and activist. Shantel Cribbs portrays her and she does a fantastic job of capturing the importance she played in the life of Fela. The play also examines her political activism. Despite her condition deteriorating she refused to be tested for AIDS. Instead she opted for traditional treatment.
He was a singer
Fela Ransome-Kuti was a complex man who employed his music to effect political change. He is famous for his work on Afrobeat, a mix of dirty funk with traditional African rhythms. He was a fervent critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders.
Fela's mother was an anti-colonial suffragist and it's not unusual that he is a fan for social commentary and politics. His parents wanted him to become medical doctor, but he had different plans.
While he initially sounded in a more apolitical, highlife vein, a trip to America changed his outlook forever. His music was greatly inspired by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leadership such as Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He embraced an African-centric philosophy which would guide and inform his later work.
He was a writer.
While in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. This experience led him to start an organization called the Movement of the People and write songs that reflected the thoughts he had about activism and black awareness. His philosophical ideas were aired in public via the method of yabis, which is a form of public speaking he dubbed "freedom of expression". He also began to establish a strict ethical code for his group, which included refusing to use medicine from Western-trained doctors.
Fela returned to Nigeria and began building his own club in Ikeja. The raids by officers and police were nearly constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area surrounding the club with hard drugs, especially "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person despite this. His music speaks to his determination to challenge authority and demanding that popular ambitions are manifested in official goals. It is a legacy that will last for generations.
He was a poet
In his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to discuss political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also mocked his fans as well as the government and himself. In these shows, he would refer to himself as "the big dick in the pond with a little." These jokes were not taken lightly by the authorities and he was frequently arrested and beatings in the hands of authorities. He eventually adopted the name Anikulapo which translates to "he has death in his bag."
In 1977, Fela released a song called "Zombie" in which he compared soldiers to blind zombies who obeyed orders without asking questions. This irritated the military, which raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its occupants. In the course of the raid, Fela's mother was thrown out of her second-floor window.
Fela developed Afrobeat in the decades that following Nigeria's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that combines jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticized European cultural imperialism, and he favored traditional African beliefs and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans who betrayed their nation's traditions. He stressed the importance of human rights and freedom.
He was a hip-hop artist
A saxophonist, trumpeter, composer and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He grew up listening to jazz, rock and roll and traditional African music and chants, which influenced his unique style of music. After an excursion to the United States in 1969, Fela met Sandra Smith, an activist from the Black Power movement and her ideas affected his work dramatically.
When he returned to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a political tool. He criticized the government of his home country and argued that African culture should not be submerged by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about social injustices and human rights violations, and was repeatedly arrested for his criticism of the military.
Fela also 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 ridicule government officials and express his views on the freedom of expression as well as the beauty of women's body. Fela also had a group of women in his youth, who performed at his shows and also served as vocal backups for him.
He was a dancer
Fela was a master of musical fusion. He incorporated elements of beat music, and highlife into his own unique style. He was a prominent African musician and a vocal critic of colonial ruling.
Despite being snatched and tortured by the Nigerian military junta, and witnessing his mother murdered, Fela refused to leave the country. He died of complications due to AIDS in 1997.
Fela was a political activist who was a critic of the oppressive Nigerian government and believed in the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums including 1973's Gentleman, focused on addressing oppression from both government bodies and colonial parties. He also promoted black-power and criticized Christianity, Islam and other non-African imports that divide the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track from a 1978 album. It describes crowded public buses full of poor workers, "shuffering and smiling". Fela was a fierce anti-religious hypocrisy. His dancers were a great complement to his music. They were vibrant, sensual and regal. Their contributions were as important as Fela's words.
He was a political activist
Fela Kuti utilized music as a weapon to confront unjust authorities. He took his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African patterns and rhythms, creating an edgy sound that was prepared for a fight. Most of his songs start as slow instrumentals, gradually layering short-lined melodies and riffs until they explode in a flash of vigor.
Fela, unlike many artists who were afraid to discuss their political views, was fearless and unbending. He stood up for his beliefs even when it was risky to do so. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was both a protestant minister and the head of the teachers' union.
He also established Kalakuta Republic - a recording studio and commune that grew into a symbol of the resistance. The government raided Kalakuta's Republic which destroyed property and injured Fela. He refused to give up, however and continued to speak against the government. He died from complications of AIDS in 1997. His son Femi continues to carry his political and musical legacy.
fela railroad settlements was a father
Music is often thought of as a political act and musicians use lyrics to call for change. But some of the most effective music-related protests do not use words in any way. Fela Kuti is among these artists and his music is heard today. He pioneered Afrobeat which combines traditional African rhythms and harmonies, with funk and jazz, inspired by artists like James Brown.
Fela's mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a militant and unionist who was a fighter against colonialism. She helped form the Abeokuta Women's Union and fought against gender-discriminatory taxation laws. She also studied Marxism and believed that Nigeria should serve its entire population.
Fela's son Seun is continuing his father's legacy, through the band Egypt 80 that's touring the world this year. The band's music blends the sounds and political stances of Fela's day with a searing denunciation of the same power structures that continue to exist today. The new album, Black Times, will be released in March. Many fans attended the funeral held in Tafawa Balewa square. The crowd was so big, that police had to block the entrance.