Background
Fela Kuti was born o October 15, 1938, in Abeokuta, Nigeria. His birth name was Olufela Olusgun Oludotun Ransome Kuti. The son of a protestant minister, Reverend Ransome Kuti. And his mother, who he loved dearly Funmilayo, was a political activist. Kuti got early exposure to music, as a young boy he learned to play the piano, and led his school choir. As he grew older he would further his studies in music in Trinity college of Music rather than medicine as he had initially told his parents.in London he would become aware of America jazz.
Fela was a polygamist. Remi was the name of his first wife,. He had three children with her. Femi Kuti who is also a musician, Yemi and Sola. They were all activist as well following in their fathers footsteps by forming a band called the Positive Force. He also married 27 of his dancers, when the government threatened to charger him for prostituting young girls.
Fight Against Corruption
Fela Kuti Formed his band called Afrika 70 later change to Egypt 80 after a split. Before the split and even after the split Fela targeted his lyrical flow towards addressing the issues of corruption in his country of Nigeria. He would become a mortar for justice. His decision to spread the truth was not easy. He was a victim of frequent raids and arrests, and frequent beatings by the government. His music address problems of poverty and how the leaders of the country are stealing the money that should be used to benefit the economy. Fela addressed his songs in a manner that directly attack the reasoning and decision making of the government. One of Kuti’s songs, V.I.P meaning Vagabonds in Power is trying to encourage the public to rise up against the government. Another, titled Zombie questions Nigerian soldiers’ blind obedience to carrying out orders. He even releases an album titled Beasts of No Nation. the cover of the album portrays various leaders of the world like Ronald Reagan and Margret Thatcher to name a few. Fela would be arrested 200 times by the Nigerian government while he lived.
“If rascality is going to get us what we want, we will use it; because we are dealing with corrupt people, we have to be rascally with them.” -Fela Kuti.
It must take a serious belief in a particular cause to be repeatedly abused for what you are fighting for and continue to fight for that same very cause. He was a strong willed individual who wasn’t easily shaken or discouraged. He fought for what he believed in and has inspired a lot of westernized musician who follow his steps and also fight for freedom and equality. Jay Z, Paul McCartney to name a few are some musicians that were influenced by Felas’ legacy
“As far as Africa is concerned, music cannot be for enjoyment it has to be for revolution”- Fela Kuti.
On August 2, 1997, Fela would die of complications from the AIDS virus, at the age of 58, in lagos Nigeria. Fela was buried in his front yard. about a Million people attended his funeral.
Source:
http://www.afrobeatmusic.net/assets/images/felakuti-sized
Fela Kuti. (2014, October 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:36, October 18, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fela_Kuti&oldid=628769033
