Fela Kuti
Fela is a man of contradictions. That's what makes him so intriguing. People who love him forgive the bad parts of him.
His songs are usually 20 minutes long or longer and are performed in a thick Pidgin English that is almost unintelligible. 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 can be a tool for change. He made use of his music to push for political and social change and his influence is still felt in the world today. Afrobeat is a style of music that combines African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music as well as funk. However it has evolved into a brand new genre.
His political activism was ferocious, and he acted without fear. He used his music to protest government corruption and human rights abuses. Songs like "Zombie", "Coffin for the State Head" and others were shrewd critiques of Nigeria's regime. He also referred to Kalakuta as a venue to meet like-minded people and to encourage political activism.
The play features a huge portrait featuring his mother, who died in the past Funmilayo ransome-Kuti. She was a renowned feminist and activist. She is portrayed by actress Shantel Cribbs, who successfully conveyed her significance in the life of Fela. The play also explores on her political activism. Despite her declining health she was unable to get tested for AIDS and instead opted for traditional treatments.
He was a musician
The
railroad injury fela lawyer Ransome Kuti was a complex man who employed his music to facilitate political change. He is known as the creator of afrobeat, an invigorating hybrid of dirty funk and traditional African rhythms. He was a fierce critic of Nigeria's religious and governmental leaders.
Having been raised by an anti-colonial feminist mother and a feminist father, it's not a surprise that Fela had a passion for social commentary and politics. His parents wanted him to be a physician, but he had different plans.
A trip to America changed his life forever. Exposure to Black power movements and leaders such as Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver would have a profound impact on his music. He embraced the Pan-Africanism philosophy, which would guide and inform his later work.
He was a music producer
Fela was introduced to Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X during his time in the United States. The experiences inspired him to establish an activist movement known as the Movement of the People, and to write songs that reflected his ideas on black and political consciousness. His ideas were expressed publicly by yabis - a type of that he described as 'freedom expression'. He also began imposing an ethical code of conduct on his band. This included refusing to take medication from Western-trained doctors.
After his return to Nigeria Fela began to build his own club, the Shrine in Ikeja. Police and military officials were all the time. The Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers-on who he had re the area around the club with hard drugs, especially the 'yamuna' and 'bana' (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person in spite of this. His music is a testament to the determination with which he challenged authority and demanded that the desires of the masses be 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 discuss political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also ridiculed his audience as well as the government and himself. In these shows, he referred to himself as "the big fish in the small pond." These jokes were not accepted lightly by the authorities, and he was repeatedly detained, imprisonments and beatings at the hands of the authorities. He was eventually given the title Anikulapo, which translates to "he is carrying his body in his purse."
In 1977, Fela released a song called "Zombie" in which he compared soldiers with brainless zombies that followed orders without any question. This irritated the military, which raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its occupants. During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown out of her second-floor apartment window.
In the years after Nigeria's independence, Fela created Afrobeat, an genre of music that combines jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticized European cultural imperialism, and
federal Employers’ liability he favored traditional African traditions and religions. He also criticised fellow Africans for disrespecting the traditions of their homeland. He emphasized the importance of freedom and human rights.
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 was influenced by rock, jazz, and roll and also traditional African music, 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.
Fela's music became a political instrument after his return to Nigeria. He criticised the government of his native country and also argued against Western sensibilities that impacted African culture. He also wrote about societal inequities and human rights violations and was often detained for his criticism of the military.
Fela was also a proponent of marijuana in Africa, which is known as "igbo". He often held public debates at Afrika Shrine, also known as "yabis" which was where he would lampoon officials of the government and share his beliefs on freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had a group of young women, who performed at his shows and acted as vocal backups for him.
He was a dancer
Fela was a master of musical fusion, taking elements from jazz, beat music, and highlife to create his own distinct style. He influenced a generation African musicians and was a vocal critic of colonial rule.
Fela refused, despite being tortured and arrested by the Nigerian military junta, as well 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, including 1973's Gentleman focused on addressing oppression from both government bodies and colonial parties. He also pushed for black-power and decried Christianity, Islam and other non-African imports for dividing the people of Africa. The title track of the album from 1978, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the over-crammed public busses full of poor people "shuffering and smiling." Fela was a staunch opponent of religious hypocrisy. His music was enhanced by his dancers who were lively elegant, sensual, and beautiful. Their contributions to the performances were as important as Fela's words.
He was an activist in the political arena.
Fela Kuti was a militant who used music to challenge unjust authority. He took his knowledge of American jazz and funk towards African patterns and rhythms, resulting in music that is ready for battle. Most of his songs start as simmering instrumentals, slowly adding small riffs and melodies until they burst with urgency.
Fela like many artists who were scared to discuss their political beliefs was unflinching and uncompromising. He stood in the cause he believed in, even when it was risky. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a fervent feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was both a protestant minister as well as the president of the teachers union.