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Fela KutiFela is a man with contradictions. That’s why he’s so intriguing. People who love him are able to accept his flaws.His songs often run for up to 20 minutes, and are sung in dense, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is inspired by Christian hymns and jazz, classical music, Yoruba chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife.He was a musicianFela Kuti embodied the idea that music can be an instrument of change. He used his music to advocate for political and social change, and his influence is evident in the world of even today. 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 ferocious and unflinching. He used his music as a protest against corruption by the government and human right abuses. Songs such as “Zombie”, “Coffin for the State Head” and others were blatant criticisms of Nigeria’s government. He also used his residence, Kalakuta Republic, as a hub for political activism as well as an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals.The play features a huge portrait of his mother, who died in the past Funmilayo ransome-Kuti. She was a renowned feminist and activist. Shantel Cribbs portrays her and she does a fantastic job of capturing the importance she played in the life of Fela. The play also explores her political activism. Despite her deteriorating condition she refused to be tested for AIDS. Instead, she chose traditional treatments.He was a musicianFela Ransome Kuti was a multifaceted person who used music to effect political change. He is famous for his work on afrobeat – a fusion of funk and dirty African rhythms. He was a fervent critic of Nigeria’s religious and governmental leaders.His mother was a suffragist who was anti-colonial and it’s not surprising that he has a passion for political commentary and social commentary. His parents wanted him to become an ophthalmologist, 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 greatly inspired by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leadership such as Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He adopted a Pan-Africanism ideology that would inform and guide his later work.He was a writerWhile in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. The experience inspired him to start an activist movement known as the Movement of the People, and to write songs that reflected his ideas about black activism and political consciousness. His ideas were expressed in public through the way of yabis, an art of public speaking was referred to as ‘freedom of expression’. fela settlements began to establish an uncompromising code of ethics for his band, such as refusing to take medication from Western-trained doctors.After returning to Nigeria Fela began to build his own club, the Shrine in Ikeja. Police and military officials were every day. His hangers-on from Mosholashi-Idi-Oro repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drugs, particularly “bana” and “yamuna” (heroin). However, Fela kept his integrity unshaken. His music is a testimony to the determination with which he fought authority and demanded that popular ambitions be reflected in official objectives. It is an extraordinary legacy that will last for generations to come.He was a poetFela’s music employed sarcasm and humor to bring attention to economic and political issues in Nigeria. He also snarkily mocked his audience, the government, and even himself. In these shows, he would refer to himself as “the big dick in the pond with a little.” These jokes were not accepted lightly by the authorities and he was repeatedly detained, imprisonments and beatings at the hands of authorities. He eventually adopted the name Anikulapo, meaning “he carries death in his bag.”In 1977, Fela released a song called “Zombie” in which he compared soldiers with brainless zombies that followed orders without asking questions. This offended the military who seized the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its occupants. In the course of the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown out of her second-floor window.Fela developed Afrobeat in the decades that after the nation’s independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that combines jazz and native African rhythm. His songs criticized European culture imperialism and supported African traditional traditions and religions. He also criticised fellow Africans for ignoring their country’s tradition. He stressed the importance of freedom and human rights.He was an artist of hip-hop.A trumpeter, saxophonist and composer, and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was heavily influenced by jazz, rock, and roll and also traditional African music, chants, and music. After an excursion to the United States in 1969, Fela met Sandra Smith, an activist from the Black Power movement, and her ideas impacted his work dramatically.After his return to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a tool for political purposes. He criticized the government in his home country and argued that African culture should not be diluted by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about human rights violations and social injustices. right violations. He was frequently detained for his criticism of military.Fela also openly advocated the use of marijuana, known as “igbo” in Africa. He also held “yabis” (public discussions) at Afrika Shrine where he would mock government officials and express his views regarding freedom of expression and the beauty of women’s bodies. Fela also had a group of young women who performed at his shows and served as vocal backups to his vocalists.He was a dancerFela was a master of musical fusion, taking elements from beat music and highlife to create his own unique style. He influenced a generation of African musicians and was a vocal critic of colonial rule.Fela refused to leave, despite being interrogated and detained by the Nigerian military junta as being a witness to the murder of his mother. He died of complications due to AIDS in 1997.Fela was a prominent political activist who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian Government and supported the ideals of Pan Africanism. His albums including 1973’s Gentleman, focused on the issue of oppression by both colonial and government parties. He also advocated black power and criticized Christianity, Islam and other non-African imports for dividing the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track of the album released in 1978. It describes overcrowded public buses full of poor workers, “shuffering and smiling”. Fela was a fierce enemy of religious hypocrisy. Fela’s dancers were also a great complement to his music. They were sensual, vibrant, and elegant. Their contributions to the performance were as significant as the words Fela used.He was a political militantFela Kuti utilized music as a way to confront unjust authorities. He took his knowledge of American jazz and funk towards African modes and rhythms, creating music that is ready for a fight. The majority of his songs begin as simmering instrumentals, slowly adding short-lined melodies and riffs until they explode with a ferocious vigor.Unlike many artists, who were hesitant to expose their political beliefs, Fela was fearless and unbending. He stood in the cause he believed in even when it was risky. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist leader of the Nigerian Women’s Movement. His father was a protestant minister and the president of the teachers union.He also created Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was a symbol of resistance. The government raided Kalakuta Republic which destroyed property and injuring Fela. He refused to relent however and continued to speak out against the government. He passed away in 1997 of complications caused by AIDS. His son Femi continues to carry on his political and musical legacy.He was a fatherMusic is often seen by many as a political act. Artists use lyrics to call for change. Some of the most powerful music performances are not performed with words. Fela Kuti is one of these artists, and his music still rings today. He was the first to pioneer Afrobeat, combining traditional African harmonies and rhythms with funk and jazz being influenced by artists such as James Brown.Fela’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a militant 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.Seun, Fela’s Son, is carrying on his father’s legacy with a band named Egypt 80. The band is on tour around the world this year. The Egypt 80’s music combines the sounds of Fela with a sharp critique of power structures that still exist today. The album, Black Times, will be released in March. A large number of fans attended the funeral and paid respects in Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so big, that the police had to block the entrance.