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Fela Kuti The life of Fela is full of contradictions, and that's a large part of what makes him so fascinating. People who love him accept the bad parts of him. His songs can last longer than 20 minutes and are sung in thick, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is influenced 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 used to influence the world. He utilized his music to call for political and social change, and his influence can be evident in the world of in the present. His musical style, Afrobeat, is a synthesis of African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music and funk. However it has evolved into a completely new genre. His political activism was fierce and fearless. He made use of his music to protest against corruption by the government and human right abuses. Songs like “Zombie”, “Coffin for the State Head” and others were bold criticisms of Nigeria's dictatorship. The residence he lived in, Kalakuta Republic, as a hub for political activism and an area for gathering with like-minded people. The play features a huge portrait featuring his mother, who died in the past Funmilayo ransome-Kuti. She was a well-known feminist and activist. Shantel Cribbs portrays her, and she does a fantastic job of expressing her significance in Fela's life. The play also focuses on her political activism. Despite her condition deteriorating, she refused to undergo tests for AIDS. Instead, she chose traditional medicine. He was a singer The Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex man who employed his music as a tool for political change. He is renowned for his creation of afrobeat – a fusion of dirty funk with traditional African rhythms. He was a vocal critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders. Being raised by an anti-colonial feminist mother It's no surprise that Fela was interested in political and social commentary. His parents wanted him to become medical doctor however, he had other plans. While he started in a more apolitical, highlife style, a trip to America changed his outlook forever. Exposure to Black power movements and leaders such as Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver would have a profound impact on his music. He adopted a Pan-Africanism philosophy, which would inform 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. The experience inspired him to create an activist movement known as the Movement of the People, and to compose songs that reflected his ideas on political activism and black consciousness. His ideas were expressed publicly through yabis, a form of that he described as “freedom expression”. He also started to impose an ethical code on his band. This included refusing to accept prescriptions from Western-trained medical professionals. After returning to Nigeria Fela began building his own club The Shrine in Ikeja. Raids from police and military officials were almost constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drug particularly “bana” and “yamuna” (heroin). Fela kept his integrity despite this. His music demonstrates the determination with which he fought authority and demanded that popular ambitions be reflected in official objectives. It is a legacy that will last for generations. He was a poet Fela's music utilized sarcasm as well as humor to draw attention to the political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also poked fun at his audience, the government, and even himself. In these shows, he referred 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, imprisonments and beatings at the hands of the authorities. He eventually renamed himself Anikulapo, meaning “he is carrying death in his pocket.” In 1977, Fela released a song called “Zombie” in which he compared soldiers with brainless zombies that followed orders without asking questions. The military was irritated by this and conducted a raid on Kalakuta Republic. They burned the place down and beat its residents. In the course of the raid, Fela's mother was thrown out of her second-floor window. In the years following the independence of Nigeria, Fela created Afrobeat, the genre of music that combined jazz and native African rhythm. His songs criticized European imperialism in culture and praised African traditional beliefs and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans who violated their country's traditions. He emphasized the importance of freedom and human rights. 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, as well as 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 impacted his work in a profound way. When he returned to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a tool for political purposes. He was critical of the government of his country and argued against Western sensibilities that affected African culture. He also wrote about human rights violations and social injustices. right abuses. He was frequently detained for his criticism of the military. Fela also advocated for the use of marijuana, referred to as “igbo” in Africa. He often held public debates at Afrika Shrine, called “yabis” where he would lampoon government officials and promote his beliefs about freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had a group of women in his youth, who performed at his shows and served as vocal backups for him. 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 a vocal critic of colonial rule. Fela refused to be interrogated and detained by the Nigerian military junta as well being a witness to the murder of his mother. He died of complications related to AIDS in 1997. 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 political parties. He also pushed for black-power and criticised Christianity, Islam and other non-African imports that divide the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track of an album from 1978. It is about overcrowded public buses full of working poor people, “shuffering and smiling”. Fela was a fierce enemy of religious hypocrisy. Fela's music was in turn complemented by his dancers, who were vibrant, sensual, and regal. Their contributions were as important as Fela’s words. He was a militant in the political arena. Fela Kuti used music as a weapon to challenge oppressive authorities. He steered his knowledge of American funk and jazz toward African patterns and rhythms, creating an edgy sound that was prepared for a fight. Most of his songs begin with slow-burning instrumentals, then layering small riffs and melodies until they explode in a flash of vigor. Fela, unlike many artists who were scared to discuss their political beliefs He was adamant and unbending. He stood for his beliefs even when it was dangerous to do so. fela claims , Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti was a fervent feminist who led the Nigerian Women's movement. His father was a protestant minister as well as the teacher's union president. He also created Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was an emblem of resistance. The government raided Kalakuta Republic, destroying property and severely injured Fela. He refused to give up, however and continued to speak out against the government. He passed away from complications of AIDS in 1997. His son Femi continues to carry his legacy of music and politics. He was a father Music is often viewed by many as a political act. The lyrics of musicians are used to call for change. Some of the most powerful music demonstrations are not accompanied by words. Fela Kuti is one of these artists and his music is heard today. He was the first to pioneer Afrobeat music, which combines traditional African rhythms and harmony with hip-hop and jazz and was influenced by artists such as James Brown. Fela's mother, Funmilayo Runsome-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 was a Marxist and believed that Nigeria should serve its all citizens. Fela's son Seun continues his father's work, with the band Egypt 80 that's touring the world this year. The music of Egypt 80 combines the sound of Fela with a sharp critique of power structures that still exist in the present. Black Times will be released at the end March. Thousands of fans attended the funeral and paid their respects in Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so large, that the police had to block the entrance.