Fela Kuti
Fela is a man with contradictions. This is what makes him so intriguing. People who love him will forgive his bad sides.
His songs are usually 20 minutes or more and are sung in a slurred Pidgin English that is almost unintelligible. His music is inspired by Christian hymns, classical music, jazz, Yoruba singing, and horn-andguitar heavy highlife.
He was a musician
Fela Kuti embodied that music can be used to change the world. He utilized his music to call for changes in the political and social spheres, and his influence is present in the world even today. Afrobeat is a musical style that blends 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 speak out against corruption in government and human rights abuses. Songs like "Zombie" and "Coffin for the Head of State" were daring critiques of the Nigerian regime. He also referred to Kalakuta as a place to meet like-minded people and to promote political activism.
The play includes 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 depicted her importance in the life of Fela. The play also examines her political activism. Despite her declining health she refused to be tested for AIDS. Instead she opted for traditional treatment.
He was a musician
Fela Ransome-Kuti was a complex man who employed his music to facilitate political change. He is famous for his work on Afrobeat, which is a blend of dirty funk with traditional African rhythms. He was a vocal critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders.
Being raised by an anti-colonial suffragist mom and a feminist father, it's not a surprise that Fela was a fan of political and social commentary. His parents wanted him to be a physician however, he had other plans.
A trip to America changed his perspective forever. Exposure to Black political movements and leaders such as Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver had a profound effect on his music. He embraced a philosophy of Pan-Africanism, which would inform and guide his later work.
He was a songwriter
Fela met Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X during his time in the United States. The experience inspired him to start a political movement called the Movement of the People, and to compose songs that reflected his views on black and political consciousness. His philosophical ideas were aired through the method of yabis, which is which is a form of public speaking is referred to as 'freedom of expression'. He also began imposing an ethical code of conduct on his band. This included refusing to accept medication from Western-trained physicians.
Fela returned to Nigeria and began building his own club in Ikeja. The frequent raids by police and military officials was almost constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area surrounding the club with hard drugs particularly "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Despite this Fela was a man of uncompromising integrity. His music is a testimony to his determination in challenging authority and ensuring that the desires of the masses are reflected in official goals. It is a remarkable legacy that will last for generations to be.
He was a poet
In his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to draw attention to political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also ridiculed his audience as well as the government and himself. He often referred to himself during these shows as "the big dick on the pond with the little fish." The authorities did not take his jokes lightly, and he was often detained, imprisoned, and beaten by the authorities. He eventually adopted the name Anikulapo, which means "he has death in his pouch."
In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to zombies who were able to follow orders without hesitation. The military was offended by the song and raided Kalakuta Republic. They burned it down and beat its inhabitants. In the course of the raid, her mother was thrown out of her second-floor window.
Fela developed Afrobeat in the decades that after Nigeria's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that blends jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticised European cultural imperialism and defended African traditional beliefs and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans who betrayed their country's customs. fela claims railroad employees emphasized the importance of human rights and freedom.
He was a rapper
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a saxophonist and trumpeter, was born in Abeokuta in 1938. He is a pioneer in Afrobeat music. He was inspired by rock, jazz, and roll and also traditional African music as well as chants and music. After a trip to the United States, Fela met Sandra Smith. She was an activist in the Black Power Movement. Her ideas were influential in his work.
When he returned to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a tool for political purposes. He criticized the government of his country of birth and argued that African culture should not be diluted by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about human rights violations and social injustices. right violations. He was arrested repeatedly for his criticism of the military.
Fela also openly advocated the use of marijuana, referred to as "igbo" in Africa. He often held public debates at Afrika Shrine, called "yabis" which was where he would slam officials of the government and share his beliefs on freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had an entourage of young women, who danced at his shows and also served as vocal backups to him.
He was a dancer
Fela was a master of musical fusion. He fused elements of beat music, and highlife to create his own unique style. He was a leading 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 from complications due to AIDS in 1997.
Fela was a political activist who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian government and supported the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, such as 1973's Gentleman focused on the oppression of both the government and colonial political parties. He also promoted black-power and decried Christianity, Islam and other non-African imports for dividing the people of Africa. The title track of an album released in 1978, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the over-crammed public busses packed with workers "shuffering and shmiling." Fela was a strong opponent of hypocrisy in religion. His music was enhanced by his dancers who were lively elegant, sensual, and beautiful. Their contributions were as important as Fela’s words.
He was an activist for the political cause.
Fela Kuti was an activist who used music to challenge oppressive authority. He made use of his knowledge of American jazz and funk towards African patterns and rhythms, creating music that is ready for a fight. Most of his songs begin as simmering instrumentals, slowly adding short-lined melodies and riffs until they explode with a ferocious vigor.
In contrast to many artists who were afraid to expose their political beliefs, Fela was fearless and uncompromising. He stood in his convictions even when it was dangerous to do so. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was an avowed feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women's movement. His father was a protestant minister as well as the teacher's union president.
He also founded Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was a symbol of resistance. The government seized the commune, degrading the property and hurting Fela badly. He refused to relent however and continued to voice his opinion against the government. He died from complications of AIDS in 1997. He was succeeded by his son, Femi, who continues to carry on his music and political legacy.
He was a father
Music is often thought of as a form of political protest, with artists using lyrics to demand change. However, some of the most powerful music-related protests don't rely on words at all. Fela Kuti was one such artist and his music still rings out to this day. He was the first to pioneer Afrobeat music, which blends traditional African rhythms and harmonies with jazz and hip-hop, influenced by artists such as James Brown.
Fela's mother, Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti, was an activist 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 Nigeria should serve its all citizens.
Seun Fela's son is carrying the legacy of his father through a group dubbed Egypt 80. The band will be touring the globe this year. The music of Egypt 80 combines the sound of Fela with a sharp critique of the power structures that 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 shut down the entrance to the venue.