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Fela Kuti

The life of Fela is full of contradictions, and that's part of what makes him so fascinating. People who love him are able to accept his flaws.

His songs are usually longer than 20 minutes and are performed in a thick Pidgin English that is almost incomprehensible. His music is influenced primarily 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 used to influence the world. He used his music to advocate for changes in the political and social spheres and his influence can be evident in the world of even today. His style of music, Afrobeat, is a combination of African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African and funk. However it has evolved into a brand new genre.

His political activism was ferocious and unflinching. 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 dictatorship. He also made his home, Kalakuta Republic, as a hub for political activism and an opportunity to meet like-minded people.

The play includes a large portrait of his late mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a prominent feminist activist and pioneer of the feminist movement. 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 undergo tests for AIDS. Instead she opted for traditional treatment.

He was a singer

Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex individual who used music to effect political change. He is credited with being the creator of afrobeat, an invigorating blend of funk, dirty and traditional African rhythms. He was also a relentless critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders.

Being raised by an anti-colonial suffragist mom It's no surprise that Fela had a passion for political and social commentary. His parents wanted him to be a physician but he had different plans.

While he started in a more political highlife vein, a trip to America changed his outlook forever. Exposure to Black power movements and the leaders like Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver would have a profound impact on his music. He adopted a Pan-Africanism ideology that would inform and guide his later work.

He was a writer.

Fela was introduced to Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X during his time in the United States. This led him to create an organization called the Movement of the People and write songs that reflected the ideas he had about activism and black awareness. His philosophies were publicly expressed through yabis - a form public speaking he called "freedom expression". He also started to impose an ethical code of conduct on his band. This included refusing to accept prescriptions from Western-trained doctors.

Fela returned to Nigeria and started building his own club in Ikeja. The raids by officers and police were almost daily. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area surrounding the club with hard drug particularly "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). But despite fela lawsuits , Fela maintained an uncompromising integrity. His music is a testimony to the determination with which he challenged authority and demanded that popular ambitions be reflected in official goals. It is an amazing legacy that will be remembered for generations to be.

He was a poet

In his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to discuss political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also poked fun at his audience, the government, and even himself. During these shows, he would refer to himself as "the big dick in the little pond." These jokes were not taken lightly by the authorities, and he was repeatedly detained and beatings in the hands of authorities. He was eventually given the title Anikulapo which means "he carries his death in his pouch."

In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to zombies who obeyed orders without hesitation. The military was offended by the song and they raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its occupants. In the course of 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 blended jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticized European cultural imperialism, and he favored traditional African traditions and religions. He also criticised fellow Africans for betraying the traditions of their homeland. He also stressed the importance of human rights and freedom.

He was a hip-hop artist

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, trumpeter and saxophonist, was born in Abeokuta in 1938. He is a pioneer of Afrobeat music. He was 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.

The music of Fela became an instrument of political power upon his return to Nigeria. He was critical of the government of his home country, and argued against Western sensibilities affecting African culture. He also wrote about social injustices and human right violations. He was repeatedly detained for his criticism of the military.

Fela also openly advocated the use of marijuana, also known as "igbo" in Africa. He held "yabis" (public discussions) at the Afrika Shrine, where he would ridicule government officials and express his views regarding freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had a harem of women in his youth, who performed at his shows and also served as vocal backups for him.

He was a dancer

Fela was a master at musical fusion. He incorporated elements of beat music, and highlife into his own unique style. He was a leading African musician and vocal critic of colonial rule.

Despite being snatched and tortured by the Nigerian military junta and seeing his mother killed, Fela refused to leave the country. He died of complications related to AIDS in 1997.

Fela was an activist for the political cause who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian government and supported the principles 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 criticized Christianity, Islam and other non-African influences for dividing the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track from a 1978 album. It describes overcrowded public buses full of poor workers, "shuffering and smiling". Fela was a fierce opponent of religious hypocrisy. His dancers were an excellent complement to his music. They were vibrant, sensual and elegant. Their contributions were as significant as Fela's words.

He was a political activist

Fela Kuti was a militant who used music to challenge oppressive authority. He adapts his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African patterns and rhythms and created music that was ready for a fight. The majority of his songs begin with slow-burning instrumentals, then adding short-lined melodies and riffs until they burst with urgency.

Fela like many artists who were scared to discuss their political views was unflinching and uncompromising. He stood in the cause he believed in even when it was risky. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a prominent feminist who led the Nigerian Women's movement. His father was a protestant minister and president of the teachers' union.

He also founded Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was an expression of resistance. The government raided Kalakuta's Republic which destroyed property and injured Fela. He refused to give up and continued to speak out against the government. He died from complications of AIDS in 1997. His son Femi continues to carry on his musical and political legacy.

He was a father

Music is often seen by many as a political act. The lyrics of musicians are used to call for change. But some of the most powerful musical protests don't use words at all. Fela Kuti is one of these artists and his music is heard today. He was the founder of Afrobeat music, which blends traditional African rhythms and harmonies with jazz and hip-hop and was influenced by artists such as James Brown.

Fela's mother, Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti, was an activist and unionist who was a fighter against colonialism. She helped form the Abeokuta Women's Union and fought against gender-discriminatory taxation laws. She also studied marxism and believed in the idea of a Nigeria which served its the entire population.





Fela's son Seun is continuing his father's work, with the band Egypt 80 that's touring the world this year. The Egypt 80's music combines the sound of Fela with a sharp critique of power structures that still exist today. Black Times will be released by the end of March. A large number of fans attended the funeral in Tafawa Balewa square. The crowd was so large that police had to shut down the entrance to the venue.