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Fela Kuti Fela's life is full of contradictions, which is part of what makes him so fascinating. People who love him will overlook his shortcomings. His songs are usually 20 minutes long or longer and are sung in a dense Pidgin English that is almost unintelligible. His music is influenced primarily 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 tool to influence the world. He made use of his music to push for social and political changes, and his influence is still present in the world today. His musical style, Afrobeat, is a combination of African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music as well as funk. However, it has evolved into a completely new genre. His political activism was ferocious and he did it without fear. He utilized his music as a protest against corruption by the government and human rights violations. Songs such as “Zombie”, “Coffin for the State Head” and others were blatant criticisms of Nigeria's government. The residence he lived in, Kalakuta Republic, as an area for political activism and a gathering place for like-minded people. The play features a large portrait of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a well-known activist and feminist pioneer. 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 get checked for AIDS and instead opted for traditional medicine. He was a musician Fela Ransome Kuti was a multifaceted person who used music to effect political change. He is credited with being the originator of afrobeat, an energetic mix of funk, dirty and traditional African rhythms. He was a fierce critic of Nigeria's religious and governmental leaders. His mother was a suffragist who was anti-colonial So it's not unusual that he has a passion for social commentary and politics. His parents wanted him to become a physician, but he had different plans. While he began in a more apolitical highlife style, a trip to America could alter his perspective forever. His music was profoundly affected by his exposure to Black Power movements and leaders like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He adopted a Pan-Africanism philosophy, which would influence and inform 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 expressed the ideas he had about political activism and black awareness. His philosophies were publicly expressed through yabis – a form public speaking he called 'freedom expression'. He also began to enforce a strict ethical code for his band, such as refusing to receive medication from Western-trained doctors. After returning to Nigeria Fela started building his own club The Shrine in Ikeja. The raids by military and police officials were nearly constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drug, especially “bana” and “yamuna” (heroin). Fela kept his integrity regardless of this. His music is a testament to his determination in challenging authority and demanding that popular ambitions are manifested in official goals. It is a remarkable legacy that will be remembered for generations to be. He was a poet In his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to highlight economic and political issues in Nigeria. He also mocked his audience as well as the government and himself. He referred to himself during these shows as “the big dick in the pond with the little fish.” The authorities did not take his jokes lightly and he was often detained and imprisoned. He was also beat by the authorities. He eventually renamed himself Anikulapo which translates to “he carries death in his bag.” In 1977, Fela recorded a song called “Zombie,” which compared soldiers to mindless zombies who were able to follow orders without hesitation. This offended the military, which raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its inhabitants. During fela lawsuit settlements , her mother was thrown from her second-floor window. In the decades after Nigeria's independence, Fela created Afrobeat, a genre of music that blended jazz and native African rhythm. His songs attacked European cultural imperialism, and he favored traditional African traditions and religions. He also criticized fellow Africans who sabotaged their country's traditions. He also stressed the importance of human rights and freedom. He was a rapper Fela Anikulapo Kuti, trumpeter and saxophonist was born in Abeokuta in 1938. He is a pioneer of Afrobeat music. He grew up listening to jazz, rock and roll and traditional African music and chants, which helped form his unique style of 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. Fela's music was a political instrument upon his return to Nigeria. He criticized the government of his home country and argued that African culture should not be diluted by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about societal injustices and human rights violations and was frequently detained for his criticism of the military. Fela was also a proponent of marijuana in Africa and is referred to as “igbo”. He often held public debates at Afrika Shrine, which he referred to as “yabis” where he would lampoon officials of the government and share his views on 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, and also supported him vocally. He was a dancer Fela was a master of musical fusion. He fused elements of jazz, beat music, and highlife into his own distinctive style. He influenced generations of African musicians and was an outspoken critic of colonial rule. 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 of 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 government and colonial parties. He also promoted black-power and criticized Christianity, Islam and other non-African influences for dividing the people of Africa. The title track of a 1978 album, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the overcrowded public buses filled with poor workers “shuffering and smiling.” Fela was a fierce opponent of religious hypocrisy. Fela's dancers were also an excellent complement to his music. They were vivacious, sensual, and elegant. Their contributions to the performance were as important as the words of Fela. He was a political militant Fela Kuti was a militant who used music to challenge unjust authority. He adapted his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African rhythms and modes making a sound that was ready for fight. Most of his songs begin with slow-burning instrumentals. He layers little notes, riffs and other elements until they explode with a sense of urgency. Fela, unlike many artists who were afraid to discuss their political beliefs He was adamant and unbending. He stood for his beliefs even when it was dangerous to do so. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a fervent feminist who led the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister and the president of the teachers' union. He also established Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was a symbol of resistance. The government raided Kalakuta's Republic, destroying property and severely injuring Fela. He refused to give up and continued to speak out against the government. He passed away in 1997 of complications arising from AIDS. His son Femi continues to carry his musical and political legacy. He was a father Music is often seen by many as a political action. Artists use lyrics to call for a change. Some of the most powerful music demonstrations aren't supported by words. Fela Kuti was one such artist, and his music still rings out today. He was the first to pioneer Afrobeat music, which combines traditional African rhythms and harmonies with jazz and hip-hop that was being influenced by artists like James Brown. Fela's mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, 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 in a Nigeria that served its all of its citizens. Fela's son Seun is continuing his father's work, with the band Egypt 80 that's touring the world this year. The band's music is a blend of the music and politics of Fela's day with a passionate critique of the same power structures that continue to exist today. Black Times will be released at the end March. Thousands of fans paid their respects at the funeral in Tafawa Balewa square. The crowd was so large, that the police had to block the entrance.