Notes

Fela: 10 Things I Wish I'd Known Sooner
Fela Kuti

The life of Fela is full contradictions, and that's a large part of what makes him so captivating. People who love him will overlook his shortcomings.

His songs typically last longer than 20 minutes and are sung in a thick, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is influenced by Christian hymns, classical music, jazz, Yoruba chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife.

He was a musician

Fela Kuti embodied the idea that music is an instrument of change. He made use of his music to push for political and social change, and his influence is evident in the world of in the present. Afrobeat is a form of music that combines African and Western influences. Its origins lie in West-African high-life music and funk, but it has since evolved into its own genre.

His political activism was fierce and he did it without fear. He used his music to protest against corruption in the government and human rights abuses. Songs like "Zombie", "Coffin for the State Head" and others were bold criticisms of Nigeria's government. He also used his residence, Kalakuta Republic, as an enclave for political activism and an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals.

The play includes a large portrait of his late mother Funmilayo ransome-Kuti. She was a prominent feminist and activist. Shantel Cribbs plays her, and she does an excellent job of conveying her importance in Fela's life. The play also explores her political activism. Despite her declining health, she refused to get checked for AIDS and instead chose traditional treatment.

He was a singer

Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex individual who utilized music to bring about political change. He is credited as the creator of afrobeat, an invigorating hybrid of funk, dirty and traditional African rhythms. He was also a relentless critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders.

Fela's mother was an anti-colonial suffragist, so it is not surprising that he has a passion for social commentary and politics. His parents believed that he would be a doctor however, he had other ideas.


While he initially sounded in a more apolitical, highlife style, a trip to America would change his outlook forever. His music was greatly influenced by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leaders like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He adopted an African-centric philosophy which would inform 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 experience inspired him to create a political movement called the Movement of the People, and to compose songs that reflected his views on black and political consciousness. His ideas were expressed publicly by yabis - a type of public speaking that he called "freedom expression". He also began to impose an uncompromising code of ethics for his band, such as refusing to receive medications from doctors trained in the West.

After his return to Nigeria Fela began building his own club and the Shrine in Ikeja. The snares of officers and police were almost constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area surrounding the club with hard drug, especially "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person regardless of this. His music speaks of his determination to challenge authority and demanding that the popular goals are recognized in official goals. It is an extraordinary legacy that will last for generations to be.

He was a poet

Fela's music employed sarcasm and humor to draw attention to the political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also ridiculed his audience as well as the government and himself. During these shows, he referred to himself as "the big dick in the pond with a little." These jokes were not taken lightly by the authorities and he suffered repeated arrests and beatings in the hands of authorities. He eventually took the name Anikulapo, which means "he carries death in his pocket."

In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to mindless zombies who followed orders without question. The military was offended by the song and seized Kalakuta Republic. They burned the place down and beat its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown from her second-floor apartment window.

Fela developed Afrobeat in the years that after the country's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that combines jazz with the indigenous African rhythm. His songs attacked European cultural imperialism and supported traditional African religions and culture. He also criticized fellow Africans who sabotaged their country's traditions. He stressed the importance of freedom and human rights.

He was an artist of hip-hop.

A trumpeter, saxophonist, composer and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was influenced by jazz, rock, and roll and also traditional African music, chants and music. After a visit to the United States, Fela met Sandra Smith. She was an activist in the Black Power Movement. Her ideas have influenced his work.

When he returned to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a political tool. He criticized the government in his home country and insisted that African culture should not be submerged by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about human rights violations and social injustices. rights abuses. He was frequently detained for his criticism of the military.

Fela was also a fervent advocate of marijuana in Africa, which is known as "igbo". He frequently held public discussions at Afrika Shrine, called "yabis" where he would slam government officials and spread his beliefs on freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela had a harem, an ensemble of young women who performed in his shows, and also backed him vocally.

He was a dancer

Fela was a master of musical fusion. He fused elements of jazz, beat music, and highlife into his own unique style. He influenced a generation of African musicians and was an outspoken critic of colonial rule.

Fela refused to leave, despite being detained and tortured by the Nigerian military junta as well as witnessing the murder of his mother. He died in 1997 of AIDS-related complications.

Fela was a well-known political activist who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian Government and supported the ideals of Pan Africanism. His albums, like 1973's Gentleman focused on the oppression of both government and colonial parties. He also advocated black power and criticised Christianity, Islam and other non-African influences for dividing the people of Africa. The title track of a 1978 album, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the over-crowded public buses full of poor people "shuffering and smiling." Fela was a fierce opponent of religious hypocrisy. The music of Fela was also complemented by his dancers, who were lively elegant, sensual, and beautiful. Their contributions to the show were as significant as Fela's words.

He was an activist in the political arena.

Fela Kuti utilized music as a way to challenge oppressive authorities. He took his knowledge of American jazz and funk towards African patterns and rhythms, creating an edgy sound that was prepared for battle. Most of his songs begin as slow-burning instrumentals. He layers riffs, long-lined melody lines and other elements until they explode with a sense of urgency.

Contrary to the majority of artists, who were afraid to publicly discuss their political views, Fela was fearless and unbending. He stood in the cause he believed in, even when it was risky. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister and president of the teachers' union.

He also founded Kalakuta Republic - a recording studio and commune that became a symbol of the resistance. The government raided Kalakuta's Republic and destroyed property, as well as injured Fela. He refused to give up however, and continued to voice his opinion against the government. He passed away in 1997 due to complications caused by AIDS. His son Femi continues to carry his political and musical legacy.

He was a father

Music is often thought of as a political act, with musicians using lyrics to demand change. However, some of the most effective music-related protests don't rely on words in any way. Fela Kuti is among these artists and his music is heard today. He was the pioneer of Afrobeat music, which combines traditional African rhythms and harmony with hip-hop and jazz that was being influenced by artists like 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 be serving its all citizens.

Seun Fela's son is carrying on his father's legacy with a band named 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 in the present. Black Times will be released at the end March. fela railroad settlements of fans attended the funeral and paid respects in Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so large that police had to shut off the entrance to the venue.

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