Fela Kuti
Fela's life is full of contradictions, and that's part of what makes him so fascinating. People who love him forgive the bad parts of him.
His songs can last longer than 20 minutes and are performed in dense, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is influenced primarily by Christian hymns and classical music. He also incorporates jazz, Yoruba, and highlife with horns and guitars.
He was a musician
Fela Kuti embodied that music can be used to influence the world. His music was used to argue for political, social and economic changes. His influence can be present to this day. Afrobeat is a musical style that blends African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African hip-life music and funk, but it has since evolved into a distinct genre.
His political activism was ferocious and he took action without fear. He used his music to protest against corruption in the government and human rights abuses. Songs such as "Zombie", "Coffin for the State Head" and others were bold criticisms of Nigeria's dictatorship. He also made use of Kalakuta as a place to meet like-minded people and to encourage political activism.
The play includes a large portrait featuring his mother, who died in the past Funmilayo ransome-Kuti. She was a renowned feminist and activist. Shantel Cribbs portrays her, and she does an excellent job of capturing the importance she played in Fela's life. The play also focuses on her political involvement. Despite her declining health, she refused to undergo tests for AIDS. Instead she opted for traditional treatments.
He was a musician
Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex person who used music to effect political change. He is credited as the originator of afrobeat, an invigorating hybrid of funk, dirty and traditional African rhythms. He was a fierce critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders.
Growing up with an anti-colonial suffragist mother and a feminist father, it's not a surprise that Fela was a fan of social commentary and politics. His parents believed that he would be a doctor however, he had other plans.
While he began in a more political highlife style, a trip to America could alter his perspective forever. Exposure to Black power movements and the leaders such as Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver would have a profound influence on his music. He adopted a philosophy of Pan-Africanism, that would influence and guide his later work.
He was a music producer
While in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. The experiences inspired him to establish a political movement called the Movement of the People, and to compose songs that reflected his ideas on political activism and black consciousness. His philosophy was expressed publicly through yabis, a form of public speaking he called 'freedom expression'. He also started to impose an ethical code on his band. This included refusing to accept medication from Western-trained doctors.
After returning to Nigeria Fela started building his own club and the Shrine in Ikeja. The frequent raids by military and police officials were almost constant. His hangers-on from Mosholashi-Idi-Oro repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drugs, particularly 'bana' and 'yamuna' (heroin). Fela kept his integrity in spite of this. His music is a testament to his determination in challenging authority and demanding that the popular goals are manifested in official goals. It is a legacy that will last for generations.
He was a poet
Fela's music utilized sarcasm as well as humor to draw attention to the political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also mocked his fans as well as the government and himself. He often referred to himself during these shows as "the big dick on the little pond." The authorities were not taking his jokes lightly, and he was often detained, imprisoned, and beaten by the authorities. He was eventually given the name Anikulapo, which translates to "he is carrying his death in his bag."
In 1977, Fela released a song called "Zombie" in which he contrasted soldiers with blind zombies who obeyed orders without question. The military was offended by this and conducted a raid on Kalakuta Republic. They burned the place down and beat its residents. During the raid, Fela's mother was thrown from her second-floor window.
In the decades after Nigeria's independence, Fela created Afrobeat, the genre of music that combined jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticised European culture imperialism and supported African traditional religions and cultures. He also criticised fellow Africans for disrespecting their country's tradition. He emphasized the importance of human rights and freedom.
He was an artist of hip-hop.
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 a visit 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 was critical of the government of his native country and argued against Western sensibilities that affected 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 fervent advocate of marijuana in Africa that is also known as "igbo". He held "yabis" (public discussions) at the Afrika Shrine where he would ridicule government officials and share his opinions on the freedom of expression as well as the beauty of women's body. Fela also had an entourage of women in his youth, who performed in his shows and also served as vocal backups for him.
He was a dancer
Fela was a master at musical fusion. He combined elements of jazz, beat music, and highlife to create his own unique style. He influenced generations of African musicians and was an outspoken critic of colonial rule.
Fela refused to leave, despite being interrogated and detained by the Nigerian military junta as well having witnessed the murder of his mother. He died in 1997 from AIDS-related complications.
Fela was a prominent political activist who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian Government and endorsed the ideals of Pan Africanism. His albums including 1973's Gentleman, focused on the issue of oppression by both colonial and government parties. He also pushed for black power and criticised Christianity and Islam as non-African imports, which have been used to divide the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track of an album from 1978. It describes overcrowded public buses full of poor workers, "shuffering and smiling". Fela was a fierce anti-religious hypocrisy. The dancers of Fela were an excellent complement to his music. They were vivacious, sensual, and elegant. Their contributions to the performances were as important as the words of Fela.
He was an activist for the political cause.
Fela Kuti used music as a way to challenge unjust authorities. He adapted his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African patterns and rhythms, creating an ear that was ready for a fight. Most of his songs begin as simmering instrumentals, slowly adding short-lined melodies and riffs until they burst with urgency.
Fela was, unlike many artists who were scared to discuss their political views 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 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 grew into a symbol of the resistance. The government raided the commune, degrading the property and injuring Fela badly. He refused to relent however, and continued to speak out against the government. He passed away in 1997 of complications arising from AIDS. He was succeeded by his son, Femi, who continues to carry on his musical and political legacy.
He was a father
Music is often seen as a political act with artists using lyrics to call for change. Some of the most powerful music demonstrations aren't accompanied by words. Fela Kuti was one such artist and his music is still ringing out today. He pioneered Afrobeat that combines traditional African harmonies and rhythms with funk and jazz, being influenced by artists such as James Brown.
Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was Fela's activist mother. fela railroad accident lawyer was a unionist and fought colonialism. She helped form the Abeokuta Women's Union and fought against gender-discriminatory taxation laws. She also studied Marxism and believed that Nigeria should serve its all citizens.
Seun Fela's Son is carrying on his father's legacy with a group dubbed Egypt 80. The band is on tour around the world this year. The band's music blends the music and politics of Fela's time with a fervent denial of the same power structures that persist in the present. Black Times will be released at the end March. Many fans attended the funeral and paid tributes at Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so huge that the police had to block the entrance.