Fela Kuti

Fela is a man of contradictions. That's what makes him so fascinating. People who love him are able to forgive his bad sides.

His songs are typically 20 minutes long or longer, and sung in a slurred Pidgin English that is almost unintelligible. His music is inspired by Christian hymns and classical music, jazz, Yoruba music, chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife.

He was a musician

Fela Kuti embodied that music can be a tool to influence the world. He used his music to advocate for political and social change, and his influence is still evident in the world of in the present. His musical style, Afrobeat, is a combination of African and Western influences. Its origins lie in West-African high-life and funk however, it has developed into its own style.

His political activism was ferocious and he took action without fear. He used his music as a protest against government corruption and human right abuses. Songs like "Zombie", "Coffin for the State Head" and others were blatant critiques of Nigeria's regime. He also made his home, Kalakuta Republic, as a hub for political activism as well as a gathering place for people who were like-minded.

The play includes a large portrait featuring his late mother Funmilayo ransome-Kuti. She was a prominent feminist and activist. Shantel Cribbs plays her, and she does a fantastic job of conveying her importance in Fela's life. The play also highlights on her political activism. Despite her condition deteriorating she refused to undergo tests for AIDS. Instead she opted for traditional treatment.

He was a musician

Fela Ransome-Kuti was a multifaceted musician who used his music to facilitate political change. He is credited with being the originator of afrobeat, an invigorating blend of funk 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 and a feminist father, it's not a surprise that Fela was a fan of politics and social commentary. His parents believed that he would be a doctor however, he had other ideas.

A trip to America changed his perspective forever. Exposure to Black power movements and leaders such as Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver would have a profound influence on his music. He adopted the Pan-Africanism philosophy, that would influence and guide his later work.

He was a songwriter

While in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. The experience inspired him to create an organization called the Movement of the People, and to compose songs that expressed his thoughts on political activism and black consciousness. His philosophies were publicly expressed through yabis, a form of public speaking that he called "freedom expression". He also began to impose a strict ethical code for his band, including refusing to use medications from doctors trained in the West.

After his return to Nigeria Fela started building his own club The Shrine in Ikeja. The snares of military and police officials were nearly constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area surrounding the club with drugs of all kinds particularly "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Despite this Fela maintained an uncompromising integrity. His music is a testimony to his determination in challenging authority and ensuring that the desires of the masses are reflected in official goals. It is a remarkable legacy that will last 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 mocked his audience as well as the government and himself. In these shows, he would refer to himself as "the big dick in the pond with a little." These jokes were not accepted lightly by the authorities and he was frequently arrested and beatings in the hands of the authorities. He eventually took the name Anikulapo, which means "he has death in his bag."

In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to mindless zombies who followed orders without question. This irritated the military who seized the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela's mother was thrown out of her second-floor by the window.

Fela developed Afrobeat in the decades that following the nation's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that combines jazz and native African rhythm. His songs criticized European cultural imperialism, and he favored traditional African beliefs and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans for disrespecting their country's traditions. 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, chants, and music. After a trip to the United States in 1969, Fela met Sandra Smith, an activist from the Black Power movement and her ideas affected his work in a profound way.

When he returned to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a tool for political purposes. He criticized the government in his country of birth and argued that African culture should not be diluted by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about societal inequities and human rights violations and was frequently detained for his criticism of the military.

Fela also openly advocated the use of marijuana, Accident Injury Lawyers also known as "igbo" in Africa. He often held public discussions at Afrika Shrine, also known as "yabis" where he would slam government officials and promote his views on freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had a harem of young women who performed at his shows and served as vocal backups to him.

He was a dancer

Fela was a master of musical fusion. He combined elements of beat music, and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He was a leading African musician and vocal critic of colonial ruling.

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

Fela was an activist for the political cause who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian government and embraced the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, including 1973's Gentleman focused on the oppression of both the government and colonial forces. He also pushed for black-power and criticised 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 overcrowded public buses packed with workers "shuffering and shmiling." Fela was a fierce opponent of religious hypocrisy. Fela's music was enhanced by his dancers, who were vibrant sensual, regal, and sensual. Their contributions were as important as Fela's words.

He was an activist in the political arena.

Fela Kuti utilized music as a tool to confront unjust authorities. He transformed his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African styles and rhythms making a sound that was ready for fight. Most of his songs begin with slow-burning instrumentals, then adding small riffs and melodies until they explode in a flash of vigor.

Fela was, unlike many artists who were scared to speak about their politics He was adamant and unbending. He stood up for what he believed in, even when it was risky. His mother, Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti, was an avowed feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was both a protestant minister and the teacher's union president.

He also founded Kalakuta Republic - a recording studio and commune that was a symbol of the resistance. The government raided Kalakuta Republic which destroyed property and injuring Fela. He refused to give up, however and continued to speak out against the government. He passed away in 1997 due to complications caused by AIDS. He was succeeded by his son, Femi, who continues to continue his musical and political legacy.

He was a father

Music is often thought of as a form of political protest, and musicians use lyrics to call for change. Some of the most powerful musical demonstrations aren't supported by words. Fela Kuti is among the artists mentioned above, and his music still is heard today. He was the pioneer of Afrobeat music, which blends traditional African rhythms and harmonies with jazz and hip-hop and was inspired by artists like James Brown.

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Fela's maternal grandmother, was an activist and unionist who stood up 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 whole population.

Seun Fela's son is carrying on his father's legacy with the band Egypt 80. The band will be touring the globe this year. The band's music is a blend of the sounds and politics of Fela's time with a fervent denial of the same power structures that persist today. The album, Black Times, will be released in March. Many fans attended the funeral and paid their respects in Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so big, that police had to block the entrance.