Fela Ransome-Kuti Fela, an activist and musician, was also a Pan-Africanist He was a defender of African culture and was influenced by Black Power He traveled to Ghana where he encountered new musical influences and a fresh direction for his music He composed songs that were intended as political attacks against the Nigerian government and a world order that systematically exploited Africa His music was uncompromisingly radical Fela Ransome-Kuti was born Abeokuta In the 1970s and the 1980s, Fela Ransome-Kuti became known for his harsh style of music and shrewd political declarations Many of his songs were direct criticisms against the Nigerian government, particularly the dictatorships of the military that ruled the country in those years He also criticised fellow Africans for supporting dictatorships Fela's rebellion against oppressive governments cost him dearly He was arrested, beaten and jailed multiple times He once called himself an "prisoner of the Kalakuta Republic" and founded his own political organization known as the Movement for the Advancement of the People MOP Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was Fela's mom She was a feminist leader and women's rights activist, known throughout the world She was a teacher and was a member of the Abeokuta Women's Union She also helped organize the first preschool classes of Abeokuta She was a suffragist, and was active in the Nigerian independence movement She was a close relation of writer and Nobel laureate Wole SOYINKA Ransome-Kuti was a strong supporter of Pan-Africanism and socialism She was a staunch supporter of socialism and Pan-Africanism Ransome-Kuti was influenced in her work by the Black Power movement and the works of Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver She was a member of the African Renaissance Movement Despite his opposition to Western culture and the oppressive Nigerian government, Fela was able to draw a huge following around the world through his music His music was a mixture of jazz, Afrobeats and rock heavily in the style of American jazz clubs He was a fierce opposition to racism The Nigerian rebel Fela's revolt against the government led to numerous arrests and beatings However, this did not deter him from continuing to tour the United States and Europe In 1984, he was once again targeted by the military and arrested on dubious charges of smuggling currencies Human rights groups from around the world intervened after the incident, and the government was forced to step down Nevertheless, Kuti continued to record and perform until his death in 1997 He was buried at Kalakuta Cemetery, Abeokuta The Fela Museum is located in the city He was a musician A passionate Pan-Africanist, Fela was determined to use his music as a means of social protest He was a critic of the Nigerian Government and inspired activists all over the world Fela was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria He was the son Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, an anticolonialist and leader of the Nigerian women's movement His mother like his grandparents was a physician who was an anti-colonialist Fela was raised to fight for the rights of oppressed people, and that became his passion in life Fela began his career as a musician in the year 1958 after dropping out of medical school in order to pursue his passion for music He began by playing highlife music, which is a popular genre that combines African rhythms and Western instruments with jazz He formed his first band in London and was able to perfect his skills in the capital of music of Europe On his return to Nigeria he developed Afrobeat which combined danceable beats and lyrics written in agitprop The new sound was adopted by Nigerians and Africans across the continent It was one of the most influential styles in African music In the 1970s, Fela's political activism put him in direct conflict with Nigerian military regimes The regime was concerned that his music would motivate people to fight against their oppressors and also to challenge the status quo Fela was adamant, despite numerous attempts to silence his music continued to make ferocious and danceable music to the end of his life He passed away in 1997 due to complications arising from AIDS When Fela was alive, lines of people were always waiting to see him perform at his nightclub in Lagos known as Afrika Shrine He also set up a commune, called the Kalakuta Republic, which served as his recording studio, club and spiritual space The commune also served as a venue to hold political speeches Fela was critical of the Nigerian government, as well as world leaders such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and PW Botha, South African Prime Minister Botha Despite his death from AIDS-related complications his legacy lives on His Afrobeat sound has influenced many artists including Beyonce and Wyclef Jean Jay Z also cites his influence He was a mysterious figure who loved music women, music and an evening out But his real legacy lies in his relentless efforts to defend the marginalized He was a Pan-Africanist The renowned Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a Pan-Africanist, bringing his unique musical style to the cause of the people A master of blending elements of African culture with American funk and jazz and using his music to protest against the oppressive Nigerian government Despite being subject to frequent beatings and arrests, the musician continued to speak out and fight for his beliefs Fela was born into the Ransome-Kuti family, which included anti-colonialists and artists His mother Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist and educator, while his dad, Israel Oludotun Ransome Kuti helped form a teachers' union He grew up listening to and singing the classic melodies of highlife, a mix of jazz standards, soul ballads and Ghanaian hymns This music influenced the worldview of Fela, who was determined to bring Africa to the world and world to Africa In https//vimeocom/708086194 , Fela recorded Zombie The song contrasts the police to a solitary group of hordes who would obey orders and savagely attack people The song irritated military authorities, who surrounded his home and took over his home They beat all of them, including Fela's wives and children His mother was taken from a window and passed away the following year from injuries she sustained during the assault The invasion fueled Fela’s anti-government activism He created an organization called the Kalakuta Republic, which doubled as a recording studio He also formed a political party and resigned from the Nigerian government and his songs began to focus more on social issues In 1979, he carried his mother's coffin to the junta's headquarters in Lagos, and was beaten for his actions Fela was a fearless and uncompromising warrior who refused to accept the status quo He was aware that he was fighting a power that was unjust and inefficient, but he never gave up He was the epitome of an unstoppable spirit and in that sense, his actions were truly heroic He was a man who fought against every obstacle and, in the process changed the course of the history of mankind His legacy continues to live on today He died in 1997 The passing of Fela has been a crushing blow to his fans across the world He was 58 years old when he passed away and his funeral was attended by a large number of people His family said that the cause of death was heart failure caused by AIDS Fela was a pivotal person in the creation of Afrobeat, a style of music that blended traditional Yoruba rhythms with jazz and American funk His political activism resulted in arrests and beatings by Nigerian police, but he refused to be silenced He propagated Africanism and encouraged others to stand up against corruption in the Nigerian military government Fela was an influential figure in the Black Power movement in the United States, which inspired him to continue fighting for Africa In his later years Fela was diagnosed with skin lesions and he also lost weight rapidly These symptoms clearly indicated that he was suffering from AIDS He was an AIDS denier and refused treatment, but ultimately succumbed to the disease Fela Kuti's legacy will be carried for generations to come Kuti's songs are a powerful declaration of political opinions that challenge the status quo He was a revolutionary who wanted to change the way Africans were treated He made use of music to fight colonialism as well as a method of social protest His music had a profound impact on the lives of many Africans and he'll be remembered for that Through his entire career, Fela worked with various producers to create his unique sound One of these producers was EMI producer Jeff Jarratt and British dub master Dennis Bovell His music was a mix of traditional African beats, American funk, and jazz, gaining him an international following He was a polarizing figure in the music industry and often criticized Western culture Fela is well-known for his controversial music and his lifestyle He smoked marijuana in public and had many affairs with women Despite his extravagant lifestyle, he was an activist and fought for the rights of the poor in Nigeria His music had an impact on the lives of a variety of Africans and encouraged them to embrace their own culture