World Music Wednesday: Fela Lives!

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Afrobeat pioneer and outspoken rebel who fought against injustice is gone but not forgotten. In honor of Black History Month we pay homage to the legend and examine how his sons are keeping the family name and tradition alive for their father.

People are becoming more educated about the legacy of Fela Anikulapo Kuti because of the hit Broadway play Fela! The Musical (which you must see)! In short, Fela Kuti was a prolific Nigerian musician who spoke against British oppression in his homeland through music with songs like “Zombie” and “Black President” (yep, way before thoughts of Obama) and made Nigerians and Black people around the world feel pride in who they are. Like several iconic freedom fighters, he had a rough life filled with arrests, murders of people he loved and general harassment from authorities who tried desperately to keep him from rebelling but he was just as persistent as his oppressors. For every time he was threatened, beat down, locked up and/or tortured, he created 10 more songs that pissed off authorities but let the world know that he wasn't backing down.

Fela passed away in 1997 but through his music, he pioneered a sound called Afrobeat, which fuses jazz with African drums. His live performances were untouchable as he always had a bevy of regal women (several of which were his wives) adorned in bright colors and makeup singing and dancing backup, and top notch musicians playing for him.

Fela and his band performing "Army Arrangement" in a video montage that splices in footage from Lagos, Nigera:

Note to Producers: That's good sample material. Speaking of samples...

Mos Def -"Fear Not of Man"

Fela Kuti - "Fear Not For Man"

There are tons more Fela samples in hip-hop!

It’s a sound that still influences African jazz and hip-hop today. Beyond the samples, Fela Kuti's sons Seun Kuti and Femi Kuti have helped to introduce the music to younger generations by touring the world and in some cases collaborating with some of our favorite hip-hop and r&b artists.

Femi Kuti was the first descendant of the Kuti clan to continue his father’s dream with albums like Shoki Shoki, Fight to Win and Day by Day. He has collaborated with Mos Def, The Roots and commemorated his father by remaking one of his dad's most popular songs entitled “Water No Get Enemy,” but spiced it up by adding D’Angelo and Macy Gray to the mix.

Here's a snippet of Femi Kuti's "Water No Get Enemy" recording session featuring several guests that you know:

Here's Fela's original version:

Twenty-eight-year-old Seun is more traditional in continuing his father’s legacy. He has reassembled his father’s old band Egypt 80 and is currently touring the world, performing cuts from his self-titled album Seun Kuti & Egypt 80:


Seun really looks like his pops!

We salute Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a true Black History icon!

By <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gagnstarrgirl">Starrene Rhett</a>