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Fela Kuti

Fela is a man of contradictions. This is what makes him so intriguing. People who love him will overlook his shortcomings.

His songs often run for up to 20 minutes, and are sung in a dense, almost unintelligible Pidgin English. His music is influenced by Christian hymns and classical music. He also blends jazz, Yoruba, and highlife with guitars and horns.

He was a musician

Fela Kuti embodied that music can be used to transform the world. He made use of his music to push for social and political changes, and his influence is present in the world even today. Afrobeat is a form of music that combines African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music and funk. However, it has evolved into a brand new genre.

His political activism was fierce, and he acted without fear. He made use of his music to protest against corruption in the government and human rights abuses. Songs like "Zombie", "Coffin for the State Head" and others were shrewd criticisms of Nigeria's government. He also made use of Kalakuta as a platform to meet like-minded people and to encourage political activism.

The play features a large portrait of his late mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a prominent feminist activist and feminist pioneer. She is portrayed by actress Shantel Cribbs, who successfully conveyed her significance in the life of Fela. The play also highlights on her political involvement. Despite her declining health she was unable to get tested for AIDS and instead opted for traditional treatments.

He was a musician

Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex person who used music to effect changes in the political landscape. He is famous for his work on Afrobeat, which is a blend of dirty funk with traditional African rhythms. He was a fervent critic of Nigeria's religious and political leaders.

Growing up with an anti-colonial suffragist mother and a feminist father, it's not a surprise that Fela was a fan of politics and social commentary. His parents wanted him to become medical doctor however, he had other plans.

A trip to America changed his perspective forever. The exposure to Black political movements and leaders like Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver had a profound effect on his music. He adopted a philosophy of Pan-Africanism, which would guide and inform his later work.

He was a music producer

Fela met Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X while in the United States. The experiences inspired him to establish an organization called the Movement of the People, and to compose songs that expressed his thoughts about black activism and political consciousness. His ideas were expressed publicly through yabis, a form of public speaking he called 'freedom expression'. He also began to impose a strict ethical code for his group, which included refusing to use medications from doctors trained in the West.

After his return to Nigeria Fela began to build his own club The Shrine in Ikeja. The police and military officials were all the time. His hangers-on from Mosholashi-Idi-Oro repopulated the area around the club with hard drugs, including the 'yamuna' and 'bana' (heroin). Despite this Fela kept his integrity unshaken. His music demonstrates the determination with which he fought authority and demanded that popular ambitions be reflected in official objectives. It is an extraordinary legacy that will last for generations to be.

He was a poet

Fela's music employed sarcasm and humor to bring attention to political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also snarkily mocked his audience, the government, and even himself. During 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 imprisonments, as well as beatings at the hands of authorities. He eventually renamed himself Anikulapo, meaning "he carries death in his pocket."

In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to mindless zombies that were able to follow orders without hesitation. The military was offended by the song and conducted a raid on Kalakuta Republic. They burned it down and beat its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown out of her second-floor by the window.

In the decades after Nigeria's independence, Fela created Afrobeat, the genre of music that combines jazz and native African rhythm. fela settlements attacked European cultural imperialism and defended African traditional religions and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans for betraying the traditions of their homeland. He emphasized the importance of human rights and freedom.

He was a rapper

A trumpeter, saxophonist and 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 helped form his style of music. After a trip to the United States in 1969, Fela met Sandra Smith, an activist from the Black Power movement and her ideas affected his work in a profound way.

The music of Fela became a political instrument after his return to Nigeria. He criticized the government of his country and also argued against Western sensibilities that impacted African culture. He also wrote about social injustices and human rights violations and was frequently detained for his criticism of the military.

Fela was also a fervent advocate of marijuana in Africa that is also known as "igbo". He also held "yabis" (public discussions) at the Afrika Shrine where he would ridicule government officials and share his opinions on freedom of expression and beauty of women's bodies. Fela had an harem, which was a group of young women who performed at his shows as well as backed him vocally.

He was a dancer

Fela was a master at musical fusion. He combined elements of jazz, beat music, and highlife into his own unique style. He was a leading African musician and a vocal critic of colonial rule.





Fela refused, despite being interrogated and detained by the Nigerian military junta as well being a witness to the murder of his mother. He died from complications due to AIDS in 1997.

Fela was an activist for the political cause who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian government and embraced the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, including 1973's Gentleman focused on the oppression of both government and colonial political parties. He also advocated black power and criticised Christianity, Islam and other non-African imports for dividing the people of Africa. The title track of a 1978 album, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the over-crammed public busses packed with workers "shuffering and shmiling." Fela was a strong opponent of hypocrisy in religion. Fela's dancers were also a great complement to his music. They were vibrant, sensual and elegant. Their contributions were just as important as Fela's words.

He was a political militant

Fela Kuti utilized music as a tool to challenge unjust authorities. He adapted his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African rhythms and modes and created music that was ready for a fight. The majority of his songs begin with slow-burning instrumentals, then adding short-lined melodies and riffs until they explode in a flash of vigor.

Unlike many artists, who were hesitant to publicly discuss their political views, Fela was fearless and uncompromising. He stood for his beliefs even when it was dangerous to do so. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, was an avowed feminist who led the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister and the head of the teachers' union.

He also founded Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was an expression of resistance. The government raided Kalakuta Republic, destroying property and severely injuring Fela. He refused to give up, and continued to speak against the government. He passed away in 1997 due to complications caused by AIDS. He was succeeded by his son, Femi, who continues to continue his musical and political legacy.

He was a father

Music is often seen as a political act with artists using lyrics to demand change. Some of the most powerful musical demonstrations aren't accompanied by words. Fela Kuti was one such artist and his music still rings out today. He was the pioneer of Afrobeat music, which combines traditional African rhythms and harmony with hip-hop and jazz, inspired by artists like James Brown.

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Fela's maternal grandmother 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 Nigeria should serve its all citizens.

Seun Fela's Son continues to carry on his father's legacy with a group dubbed Egypt 80. The band will be touring the globe this year. The band's music combines the sounds and political stances of Fela's era with a passionate critique of the same power structures that are still in place today. Black Times will be released at the end of March. Thousands of fans attended the funeral in Tafawa Balewa square. The crowd was so big that the police had to shut down the entrance.