Fela Kuti
The life of Fela is full of contradictions, and that's part of what makes him so captivating. People who love him forgive the flaws in him.
His songs are usually 20 minutes long or longer and are sung in a thick Pidgin English that is almost unintelligible. His music is influenced by Christian hymns and classical music. He also incorporates jazz, Yoruba, and highlife with guitars and horns.
He was a musician
Fela Kuti embodied that music can be a powerful tool to change the world. He used his music to advocate for changes in the political and social spheres and his influence is evident in the world of even today. His musical style, Afrobeat, is a blend of African and Western influences. Its origins lie in West-African hip-life music and funk However, it has since evolved into its own style.
His political activism was fierce and fearless. He used his music to speak out against corruption in government and human rights violations. Songs such as "Zombie", "Coffin for the State Head" and others were blatant criticisms of Nigeria's government. He also made his home, Kalakuta Republic, as an enclave for political activism as well as a gathering place for people who were like-minded.
The play features 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 has successfully conveyed her significance in the life of Fela. The play also explores her political activism. Despite her deteriorating health she refused to be checked for AIDS and instead chose traditional medicine.
He was a musician
The Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex man who employed his music as a tool for political change. He is credited as the originator of afrobeat, an energetic mix of funk, dirty and traditional African rhythms. He was a fierce critic of Nigeria's religious and political leaders.
Being raised by an anti-colonial suffragist mother and a feminist father, it's not a surprise that Fela was interested in politics and social commentary. His parents hoped that he would eventually become a doctor however, there were other goals for him.
A trip to America changed his outlook forever. The exposure to Black political movements and leaders such as Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver would have a profound influence on his music. He adopted a Pan-Africanism philosophy, which would guide and inform his later work.
He was a music producer
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 about black activism and political consciousness. His ideas were expressed publicly by yabis - a type of public speaking that he called 'freedom expression'. He also began to enforce strict moral codes for his group, which included refusing to receive medications from doctors trained in the West.
Fela returned to Nigeria and started building his own club in Ikeja. The snares of police and military officials was almost constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drugs particularly "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). However, fela lawyer maintained an uncompromising integrity. His music speaks to his determination in challenging authority and demanding that the popular goals are reflected in official goals. It is an extraordinary legacy that will endure for generations to be.
He was a poet
Fela's music utilized sarcasm as well as humor to bring attention to the political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also snarkily mocked his audience, government, and even himself. He referred to himself during these shows as "the big dick in the small pond." The authorities took his jokes lightly, and he was frequently detained and detained, as well as beat by the authorities. He was eventually given the name Anikulapo, which translates to "he is carrying his death in his pouch."
In 1977, Fela released a song called "Zombie" in which he contrasted soldiers with mindless zombies who followed orders without any question. The military was irritated by this and conducted a raid on Kalakuta Republic. They burned it down and beat its residents. During the raid, Fela's mother was thrown from her second-floor apartment window.
Fela developed Afrobeat in the years that following Nigeria's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that blends jazz with the indigenous African rhythm. His songs criticized European culture imperialism and supported African traditional beliefs and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans who violated their nation's traditions. He also stressed the importance of human rights and freedom.
He was a hip-hop artist
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a saxophonist and trumpeter, was born in Abeokuta in 1938. He is a pioneer in Afrobeat music. He was heavily influenced by rock, jazz, and roll, as well as traditional African music as well as chants and music. After a trip 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 was critical of the government of his country, and argued against Western sensibilities that affected African culture. He also wrote about social injustices and human rights abuses and was often detained for his criticism of the military.
Fela also openly advocated the use of marijuana, referred to as "igbo" in Africa. He often held public discussions at Afrika Shrine, which he referred to as "yabis", in which he would ridicule government officials and promote his beliefs about freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela had an harem, which was an ensemble of young women who performed at his shows as well as supported his vocally.
He was a dancer
Fela was a master of musical fusion, taking elements from jazz, beat music and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He was a renowned African musician and vocal critic of colonial ruling.
Despite being arrested and tortured by the Nigerian military junta and witnessing his mother killed, Fela refused to leave the country. He died in 1997 from AIDS-related complications.
Fela was a well-known political activist 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 the government and colonial forces. He also pushed for black power and decried Christianity and Islam as non-African imports, which have been used to divide the people of Africa. The title track from a 1978 album, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the overcrowded public buses filled with poor workers "shuffering and smiling." Fela was a strong opponent of hypocrisy in religion. The dancers of Fela were an excellent complement to his music. They were vivacious, sensual, and regal. Their contributions were as significant as Fela’s words.
He was an activist for the political cause.
Fela Kuti was an activist who used music to challenge the unjust authority. He adapted his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African styles and rhythms and created music that was ready for fight. The majority of his songs start with slow-burning instrumentals. He layers little riffs, long-lined melody lines and other elements until they explode with a sense of urgency.
Contrary to the majority of artists, who were hesitant to speak out about their politics, Fela was fearless and uncompromising. He stood up for his beliefs even when it was risky to do so. His mother, Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti, was an avowed 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 established Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was an emblem of resistance. The government seized the commune, degrading the property and hurting Fela severely. He refused to give up, however, and continued to speak against the government. He passed away in 1997 of complications related to AIDS. His son Femi continues to carry on his musical and political legacy.
He was a father
Music is often viewed by many as a political action. Artists use lyrics to call for change. Some of the most powerful music performances are not performed with words. Fela Kuti was one such artist, and his music is still ringing out today. He pioneered Afrobeat that combines traditional African rhythms and harmonies, with funk and jazz, inspired by artists like James Brown.
Fela's mother, Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti was a militant 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 that Nigeria should serve its entire population.
Seun Fela's son is carrying the legacy of his father with the band Egypt 80. The band will be touring the globe this year. The music of Egypt 80 combines the sounds of Fela with a scathing denunciation of power structures that still exist today. The new album, Black Times, will be released in March. A large number of fans attended the funeral and paid tributes at Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so huge that police had to block the entrance.