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Fela Kuti Fela is a man of contradictions. That's why he's so intriguing. People who love him can forgive his bad sides. His songs typically last 20 minutes or more, and are sung in thick, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is heavily influenced by Christian hymns jazz, classical music Yoruba chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife. He was a musician Fela Kuti embodied the idea that music can be a tool for change. His music was used to call for political, social and economic changes. His influence is present to this day. His style of music, Afrobeat, is a synthesis of African and Western influences. Its roots lie in West-African high-life and funk however, it has evolved into its own genre. His political activism was fierce and fearless. He used his music to protest against corruption in the government and human rights violations. Songs like “Zombie”, “Coffin for the State Head” and others were shrewd critiques of Nigeria's regime. He also made use of Kalakuta as a platform to gather like-minded people and to encourage political activism. The play features a large portrait of his late mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a prominent activist and feminist pioneer. She is played by actress Shantel Cribbs who has successfully conveyed her significance in the life of Fela. The play also focuses on her political activism. Despite her declining health, she refused to undergo tests for AIDS. Instead she opted for traditional treatments. He was a musician Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex individual who utilized music to bring about political change. He is credited as the originator of afrobeat, an invigorating hybrid of dirty funk and traditional African rhythms. He was a fervent critic of Nigeria's religious and political leaders. Having been raised by an anti-colonial suffragist mother, it is no surprise that Fela had a passion for social commentary and politics. His parents wanted him to become an ophthalmologist but he had different plans. While he initially sounded in a more political highlife fashion, a trip in America changed his outlook forever. His music was greatly affected by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leaders like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He embraced an African-centric philosophy which would guide and inform his later work. He was a music producer While in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. The experience inspired him to start an organization called the Movement of the People, and to compose songs that reflected his views on black and political consciousness. His ideas were expressed in public through the way of yabis, an art of public speaking which was referred to as 'freedom of expression'. He also started to impose an ethical code of conduct on his band. This included refusing to take medication from Western-trained doctors. After his return to Nigeria Fela began building his own club and the Shrine in Ikeja. The raids by military and police officials were nearly constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drugs, especially “bana” and “yamuna” (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person regardless of this. His music demonstrates the determination with which he challenged authority and demanded that popular ambitions be reflected in official goals. It is an extraordinary legacy that will endure for generations to come. He was a poet In his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to draw attention to political and economic issues in Nigeria. fela attorneys poked fun at his audience, 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 viewed lightly by the authorities, and he was repeatedly detained, imprisonments and beatings at the hands of the authorities. He eventually renamed himself Anikulapo, meaning “he has death in his pouch.” In 1977, Fela released a song called “Zombie” in which he compared soldiers to mindless zombies who followed orders without question. 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. In the years after Nigeria's independence, Fela created Afrobeat, the genre of music that blended jazz and traditional African rhythm. His songs criticised European imperialism in culture and praised African traditional beliefs and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans who betrayed their country's traditions. He emphasized the importance of human rights and freedom. He was a rapper Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a saxophonist and trumpeter, was born in Abeokuta in 1938. He is a pioneer in Afrobeat music. He grew up listening to jazz music, rock and roll and traditional African music and chants, which helped shape his unique style of music. After a trip to the United States, Fela met Sandra Smith. She was an activist in the Black Power Movement. Her ideas were influential in his work. The music of Fela became a political instrument after his return to Nigeria. He was critical of the government in his home country and insisted that African culture should not be submerged by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about social inequities and human rights violations and 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” which was where he would ridicule government officials and promote his views on freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela had a harem, an ensemble of young women who performed in his shows, and also supported him vocally. He was a dancer Fela was a master at musical fusion. He incorporated elements of jazz, beat music, and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He was a prominent African musician and vocal critic of colonial ruling. Despite being tortured and arrested by the Nigerian military junta, and witnessing his mother be killed, Fela refused to leave the country. 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 supported the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, including 1973's Gentleman, focused on the issue of oppression by both colonial and government parties. He also promoted black power and criticized Christianity and Islam as non-African imports, which have been 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 working poor people, “shuffering and smiling”. Fela was a fierce anti-religious hypocrisy. His dancers were a great complement to his music. They were sensual, vibrant, and elegant. Their contributions were as important as Fela's lyrics. He was an activist for the political cause. Fela Kuti was an activist who utilized music to challenge unjust authority. He made use of his knowledge of American funk and jazz toward African patterns and rhythms, resulting in an edgy sound that was prepared for a fight. The majority of his songs start with slow-burning instrumentals. He layers riffs, long-lined melody lines and other elements until they explode with urgency. In contrast to many artists who were afraid to expose their political beliefs, Fela was fearless and uncompromising. He stood in the cause he believed in even when it was risky. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a prominent feminist who led the Nigerian Women's movement. His father was both a protestant minister as well as the president of the teachers union. He also founded Kalakuta Republic – a recording studio and commune that became a symbol of the resistance. The government seized the commune, degrading the property and hurting Fela severely. He refused to give up, however and continued to speak against the government. He died in 1997 from complications related to AIDS. His son Femi continues to carry on his musical and political legacy. He was a father Music is often seen by many as a political act. The lyrics of musicians are used to demand change. However, some of the most effective music-related protests do not use words at all. Fela Kuti is one of the artists mentioned above, and his music still rings today. He was the pioneer of Afrobeat music, which combines 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 a militant and unionist who was a fighter against colonialism. She helped form the Abeokuta Women's Union and fought against gender-discriminatory taxation laws. She also studied marxism and believed in a Nigeria that was serving its the entire population. Fela's son Seun continues his father's work, with the band Egypt 80 that's touring the world this year. The band's music is a blend of the music and politics of Fela's time with a searing denunciation of the same power structures that continue to exist today. Black Times will be released at the end March. Many fans gathered to pay their respects at the funeral held in Tafawa Balewa square. The crowd was so large that police were forced to block the entrance to the venue.