Fela Kuti
Fela's life is full of contradictions, and that's part of what makes him so fascinating. People who love him are able to overlook his shortcomings.
His songs are typically longer than 20 minutes and are performed in a dense Pidgin English that is almost impossible to understand. His music is influenced by Christian hymns and classical music. He also includes jazz, Yoruba, and highlife with guitars and horns.
He was a musician
Fela Kuti embodied that music can be a powerful tool to influence the world. He made use of his music to push for social and political changes and his influence is felt in the world even today. fela law firm of music, Afrobeat, is a synthesis of African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music and funk. However it has evolved into a completely new genre.
His political activism was fierce and frightened. He utilized his music as a protest against corruption in the government and human right abuses. Songs like "Zombie" and "Coffin for the Head of State" were bold criticisms of the Nigerian regime. He also made use of Kalakuta as a place to gather like-minded people and to promote political activism.
The play includes a large portrait of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a well-known activist and feminist pioneer. The actress who portrays her is Shantel Cribbs who has successfully depicted her importance in the life of Fela. The play also focuses on her political involvement. Despite her deteriorating health she was unable to get checked for AIDS and instead opted for traditional treatment.
He was a singer
Fela Ransome-Kuti was a multifaceted man who used his music as a tool for political change. He is credited as the creator of afrobeat. It was an invigorating blend of funk, dirty and traditional African rhythms. He was a fierce critic of Nigeria's religious and political leaders.
Growing up with an anti-colonial suffragist mom and a feminist father, it's not a surprise that Fela was interested in political and social commentary. His parents hoped that he would become a doctor however, he had other ideas.
While he initially sounded in a more apolitical highlife fashion, a trip in America changed his outlook forever. His music was greatly inspired by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leaders like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He developed an African-centric philosophy that would influence and guide 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. The experiences inspired him to establish an activist movement known as the Movement of the People, and to write songs that reflected his ideas about black activism and political consciousness. His philosophy was expressed publicly through yabis - a form public speaking that he called "freedom expression". He also began imposing an ethical code of conduct on his band. This included refusing to accept prescriptions from Western-trained medical professionals.
After his return to Nigeria Fela began building his own club and the Shrine in Ikeja. The frequent raids by officers and police were almost constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area around the club with drugs of all kinds particularly "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person regardless of this. His music speaks to his determination in challenging authority and ensuring that the desires of the masses are reflected in official goals. It is an influence that will last for generations.
He was a poet
In his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to highlight economic and political issues in Nigeria. He also made fun of his audience, government officials, and even himself. He often referred to himself during these shows as "the big dick in the small pond." The authorities were not taking his jokes lightly and he was frequently detained and imprisoned. He was also beat by the authorities. He was eventually given the name Anikulapo, which means "he carries his death in his bag."
In 1977, Fela released a song called "Zombie" in which he compared soldiers to brainless zombies that followed orders without question. This irritated the military and they raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown out of her second-floor by the window.
In the years following the independence of Nigeria, Fela created Afrobeat, a genre of music that combines jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticized European cultural imperialism, and he favored traditional African religions and culture. He also criticised fellow Africans for betraying their country's tradition. He stressed the importance of freedom and human rights.
He was a hip-hop artist
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, trumpeter and saxophonist was born in Abeokuta in 1938. He is a pioneer in Afrobeat music. He was heavily influenced by jazz, rock and roll and also traditional African music as well as chants and 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 profoundly.
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 affecting African culture. He also wrote about societal injustices and human rights violations and was frequently detained for his criticism of the military.
Fela also advocated for the use of marijuana, referred to as "igbo" in Africa. He held "yabis" (public discussions) at the Afrika Shrine, where he would mock government officials and share his opinions regarding freedom of expression and the beauty of women's body. Fela also had a group of women in his youth, who performed at his shows and served as vocal backups to his vocalists.
He was a dancer
Fela was a master of musical fusion. He incorporated elements from beat music, and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He was a renowned African musician and vocal critic of colonial ruling.
Fela refused, despite being detained and tortured by the Nigerian military junta, as well having witnessed the murder of his mother. He died in 1997 of AIDS-related complications.
Fela was a political activist who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian government and believed in the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, such as 1973's Gentleman focused on the oppression of both the government and colonial forces. He also promoted black power and decried Christianity and Islam as non-African imports, which have been used to divide the people of Africa. The title track of an album released in 1978, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the overcrowded public buses filled with poor 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 regal. Their contributions to the performances were as important as Fela's words.
He was a political militant
Fela Kuti was an activist who used music to challenge unjust authority. He took his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African modes 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 melodies, riffs, long-lined melodies and other elements until they explode with urgency.
Fela, unlike many artists who were afraid to speak about their politics He was adamant and unbending. He stood up for what he believed in, even when it was risky. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist who led the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister, and the head of the teachers' union.
He also created Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was an emblem of resistance. The government raided Kalakuta's Republic which destroyed property and injuring Fela. He refused to back down, though, and continued to voice his opinion against the government. He died in 1997 from complications related to AIDS. His son Femi continues to carry on his legacy of music and politics.
He was a father
Music is often thought of as a political act, with artists using lyrics to solicit change. However, some of the most powerful music-related protests don't rely on words at all. Fela Kuti is one of these artists, and his music still rings today. He was the first to pioneer Afrobeat that combines traditional African rhythms and harmonies with funk and jazz inspired by artists like James Brown.
Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was Fela's activist mother. She was a unionist and opposed 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 whole 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 is a blend of the sounds and political stances of Fela's day with a fervent denial of the same power structures that persist today. The new album, Black Times, will be released in March. Many fans attended the funeral and paid respects in Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so large that police were forced to shut down the entrance to the venue.