Fela Kuti
Fela's life is full of contradictions, and that's part of what makes him so fascinating. People who love him will forgive the bad parts of him.
His songs are often longer than 20 minutes and are performed in a slurred Pidgin English that is almost incomprehensible. His music is heavily influenced by Christian hymns and jazz, classical music, Yoruba music, chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife.
He was a musician
Fela Kuti embodied the idea that music can be an instrument for change. His music was used to argue for political, social and economic reforms. His influence is still present even today. His style of music, Afrobeat, is a synthesis of African and Western influences. Its origins lie in West-African high-life music and funk, but it has since evolved into a distinct style.
His political activism was intense, and he acted without fear. He utilized his music as a protest against government corruption and human rights abuses. Songs like "Zombie", "Coffin for the State Head" and others were shrewd criticisms of Nigeria's dictatorship. The residence he lived in, 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. She was a renowned feminist and activist. Shantel Cribbs portrays her, and she does a fantastic job of capturing the importance she played in the life of Fela. The play also explores her political activism. Despite her condition deteriorating, she refused to be tested for AIDS. Instead she took traditional treatment.
He was a musician
Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex person who used music to effect changes in the political landscape. He is known as the creator of afrobeat, an invigorating blend of funk, dirty and traditional African rhythms. He was a fierce critic of Nigeria's religious and governmental leaders.
Fela's mother was an anti-colonial suffragist, so it is not unusual that he is a fan for political commentary and social commentary. His parents hoped that he would eventually become a doctor, but he had other plans.
A trip to America changed his perspective forever. His music was profoundly affected by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leaders like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He developed a philosophy of Pan-Africanism, that would influence and guide his later work.
He was a writer.
While in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. This led him to start an organization called the Movement of the People and compose songs that reflected the ideas he had about political activism and black awareness. His philosophy was expressed publicly by yabis - a type of that he described as 'freedom expression'. He also began to establish strict moral codes for his band, such as refusing to receive medication from Western-trained doctors.
After his return to Nigeria Fela started building his own club and the Shrine in Ikeja. The snares of police and military officials was nearly constant. His hangers-on from Mosholashi-Idi-Oro repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drugs, including "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person in spite of this. His music demonstrates the determination with which he challenged authority and demanded that the popular will be reflected in official objectives. It is an amazing legacy that will endure 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 ridiculed his audience as well as the government and himself. During these shows, he would refer to himself as "the big fish in the small pond." These jokes were not taken lightly by the authorities, and he suffered repeated arrests, imprisonments and beatings at the hands of authorities. He was eventually given the name Anikulapo, which means "he has his death in his pouch."
In 1977, Fela released a song called "Zombie" in which he compared soldiers with blind zombies who obeyed orders without any question. The military was offended by this and seized Kalakuta Republic. They burned it down and beat its residents. During the raid, Fela's mother was thrown out of her second-floor through a window.
Fela developed Afrobeat in the decades that followed Nigeria's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that combines jazz and native African rhythm. His songs attacked European culture imperialism and supported African traditional religions and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans for disrespecting their country's traditions. He stressed the importance of freedom and human rights.
He was a hip-hop artist
A saxophonist, trumpeter, composer and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was inspired by jazz, rock, and roll, as well as traditional African music as well as chants and music. After an excursion to the United States in 1969, Fela met Sandra Smith, an activist from the Black Power movement, and her ideas impacted his work dramatically.
Upon his return to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a political tool. He criticized the government of his native country and also argued against Western sensibilities that affected African culture. He also wrote about societal injustices and human rights abuses and was often detained for his criticism of the military.
Fela also openly advocated the use of marijuana, known as "igbo" in Africa. He frequently held public discussions at Afrika Shrine, which he referred to as "yabis" which was where he would ridicule officials of the government and share his beliefs about freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had an entourage of young women who performed at his shows and served as vocal backups for his vocalists.
He was a dancer
Fela was a master of musical fusion. He incorporated elements from jazz, beat music, and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He was a leading African musician and a vocal critic of colonial ruling.
Fela refused, despite being interrogated and detained by the Nigerian military junta as well being a witness to the murder of his mother. He died in 1997 of AIDS-related complications.
Fela was an activist for the political cause who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian government and believed in the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, like 1973's Gentleman focused on the oppression of both the government and colonial forces. He also promoted black-power and criticised Christianity, Islam and other non-African influences for dividing the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track of a 1978 album. It describes crowded public buses filled with working poor people, "shuffering and smiling". Fela was a fierce anti-religious hypocrisy. Fela's music was enhanced by his dancers, who were vibrant sensual, regal, and sensual. Their contributions were just as important as Fela's words.
He was a political activist
Fela Kuti used music as a weapon to challenge oppressive authorities. He made use of his knowledge of American funk and jazz toward African patterns and rhythms, resulting in music that is ready for a fight. railroad injury fela lawyer of his songs start as slow-burning instrumentals. He layers little riffs, long-lined melody lines and other elements until they explode with urgency.
In contrast to many artists who were hesitant to publicly discuss their political views, Fela was fearless and unbending. He stood for his beliefs even when it was risky to do so. His mother, Funmilayo Runsome-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 emblem of resistance. The government raided Kalakuta's Republic, destroying property and severely injured Fela. He refused to give up and continued to speak out against the government. He passed away from complications of AIDS in 1997. His son Femi continues to carry his political and musical legacy.
He was a father
Music is often seen as a form of political protest, and musicians use lyrics to call for change. But some of the most powerful music-related protests do not use words at all. Fela Kuti is one these artists, and his music still is heard today. He was the first to pioneer Afrobeat, combining traditional African rhythms and harmonies, with funk and jazz, inspired by artists like James Brown.
Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was Fela's activist mother. She was a unionist who fought colonialism. She helped form the Abeokuta Women's Union and fought against gender-discriminatory taxation laws. She also studied marxism and believed in a Nigeria which served its all of its citizens.
Fela's son Seun continues his father's legacy through a band called Egypt 80 that's touring the world this year. The band's music is a blend of the sounds and politics of Fela's era with a fervent denial of the same power structures that persist in the present. Black Times will be released at the end of March. A large number of fans attended the funeral in Tafawa Balewa square. The crowd was so big that police had to block the entrance.