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Fela KutiFela is a man of contradictions. That’s why he’s so fascinating. People who love him are able to forgive his bad sides.His songs are usually longer than 20 minutes and are performed in a thick Pidgin English that is almost impossible to understand. His music is influenced by Christian hymns, jazz, classical music Yoruba chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife.He was a musicianFela Kuti embodied that music can be a powerful tool to transform the world. He made use of his music to push for social and political changes and his influence is still felt in the world even today. Afrobeat is a style of music that combines African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music and funk. However it has evolved into a brand new genre.His political activism was ferocious and unflinching. He used his music to speak out against corruption in government and human rights violations. Songs such as “Zombie” and “Coffin for the Head of State” were bold critiques of the Nigerian regime. The residence he lived in, Kalakuta Republic, as a hub for political activism and an opportunity to meet like-minded people.The play features a large portrait of his late mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a prominent activist and feminist pioneer. Shantel Cribbs portrays her, and she does a fantastic job of expressing her significance in the life of Fela. The play also explores her political activism. Despite her declining health she refused to be checked for AIDS and instead opted for traditional treatment.He was a musicianThe Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex man who employed his music to effect political change. He is famous for his work on Afrobeat, which is a blend of funk and dirty African rhythms. He was a fierce critic of Nigeria’s religious and political leaders.Being raised by an anti-colonial suffragist mom, it is no surprise that Fela was interested in social commentary and politics. His parents hoped that he would eventually become a doctor however, he had other ideas.A trip to America changed his life forever. His music was greatly affected by his exposure to Black Power movements and leaders like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He adopted a Pan-Africanism philosophy, which would inform and guide his later work.He was a music producerFela was introduced to Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X during his time in the United States. This led him to create an organization called the Movement of the People and create songs that expressed the ideas that he held about political activism and black awareness. His philosophies were publicly expressed through yabis, a form of that he described as “freedom expression”. He also started to impose an ethical code of conduct on his band. This included refusing to take medication from Western-trained physicians.Fela returned to Nigeria and began to build his own club in Ikeja. Police and military officials were almost constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area around the club with drugs of all kinds, especially “bana” and “yamuna” (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person in spite of this. His music speaks of his determination to challenge authority and demanding that the popular goals are reflected in official goals. It is a remarkable legacy that will endure for generations to come.He was a poetIn his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to draw attention to political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also mocked his fans as well as the government and himself. He often referred to himself during these shows as “the big dick in the small pond.” The authorities did not take his jokes lightly and he was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned. He was also beaten by the authorities. He eventually renamed himself Anikulapo which translates to “he carries death in his pouch.”In 1977, Fela released a song called “Zombie” in which he compared soldiers to blind zombies who obeyed orders without question. The military was offended by the song, which raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown from her second-floor window.Fela developed Afrobeat during the years that following the nation’s independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that combines jazz with indigenous African rhythm. His songs attacked European culture imperialism and supported African traditional 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 rapperA trumpeter, saxophonist and composer and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He grew up listening to jazz music, rock and roll and traditional African music and chants which influenced his unique style of music. After a trip to the United States in 1969, Fela met Sandra Smith, an activist from the Black Power movement and her ideas affected his work in a profound way.When he returned to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a political tool. He criticized the government in his home country and insisted that African culture should not be submerged by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about human rights violations and social injustices. right abuses. He was repeatedly detained for his criticism of military.Fela was also a fervent advocate of marijuana in Africa, which is known as “igbo”. He held “yabis” (public discussions) at Afrika Shrine, where he would ridicule government officials and express his views on the freedom of expression as well as the beauty of women’s body. Fela also had a group of women in his youth, who performed at his shows and also served as vocal backups to him.He was a dancerFela was a master of musical fusion. He incorporated elements from jazz, beat music, and highlife to create his own unique style. He influenced a generation of African musicians and was an outspoken critic of colonial rule.Despite being arrested and tortured by the Nigerian military junta and seeing his mother killed, Fela refused to leave the country. He died in 1997 of AIDS-related complications.Fela was a political activist who was a critic of the oppressive Nigerian government and embraced the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, such as 1973’s Gentleman focused on the oppression of both the government and colonial political parties. He also promoted black power and criticised Christianity and Islam as non-African influenced religions that were used to divide the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track from a 1978 album. It describes overcrowded public transports filled with poor workers, “shuffering and smiling”. Fela was a fierce opponent of religious hypocrisy. His dancers were a great complement to his music. They were sensual, vibrant, and regal. Their contributions were just as important as Fela’s words.He was a political activistFela Kuti used music as a way to challenge oppressive authorities. He adapted his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African patterns and rhythms and created music that was ready for a fight. The majority of his songs start as slow-burning instrumentals. He layers melodies, riffs, long-lined melodies and other elements until they explode with urgency.In contrast to many artists who were afraid to publicly discuss their political views, Fela was fearless and uncompromising. He stood in his convictions even when it was risky to do so. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was an avowed feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women’s Movement. His father was a protestant minister and the president of the teachers’ union.He also founded Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was an expression of resistance. The government seized the commune, destroying the property and injured Fela severely. fela lawsuit settlements 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 fatherMusic is often seen as a political act with artists using lyrics to solicit change. Some of the most powerful musical performances are not performed with words. Fela Kuti was one such artist, and his music is still ringing out to this day. He was the pioneer of Afrobeat music, which blends traditional African rhythms and harmony with hip-hop and jazz that was influenced by artists such as 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 Nigeria should serve its entire population.Fela’s son Seun continues his father’s work, with a band called Egypt 80 that’s touring the world this year. The Egyptian 80’s music blends the sounds of Fela and a scathing critique of the power structures that exist today. Black Times will be released at the end March. A large number of fans paid their respects at the funeral at Tafawa Balewa square. The crowd was so huge that police were forced to shut down the entrance to the location.