Fela Kuti Fela is a man with contradictions This is what makes him so fascinating People who love him will forgive the parts of him that aren't perfect His songs are often longer than 20 minutes, and sung in a thick Pidgin English that is almost impossible to understand 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 a powerful tool to transform the world He made use of his music to push for political and social change, and his influence is still present in the world in the present Afrobeat is a style of music that blends African and Western influences Its roots are in West-African music as well as funk However, it has evolved into a brand new genre His political activism was ferocious and he took action without fear He made use of his music to protest government corruption and human rights violations Songs like "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 people who were like-minded https//vimeocom/708073682 features a large portrait of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a prominent activist and feminist pioneer Shantel Cribbs portrays her, and she does a fantastic job of capturing the importance she played in the life of Fela The play also highlights her political activism Despite her deteriorating health she was unable to get checked for AIDS and instead chose traditional treatments He was a singer Fela Ransome Kuti was a complex individual who utilized music to bring about political change He is credited with being the creator of afrobeat It was an invigorating hybrid of funk, dirty and traditional African rhythms He was a fierce critic of Nigeria's religious and governmental leaders Fela's mother was a suffragist against colonialism and it's not unusual that he is a fan for social commentary and politics His parents had hoped that he would be a doctor however, there were other goals for him A trip to America changed his life forever His music was greatly influenced by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leaders like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X He developed a philosophy of Pan-Africanism, that would influence and guide his later work He was a music producer Fela met Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X while in the United States This experience led him to create an activist group known as the Movement of the People and write songs that reflected the thoughts he had about political activism and black awareness His ideas were expressed through the medium of yabis, a form of public speaking which was referred to as "freedom of expression" He also began imposing an ethical code of conduct on his band This included refusing to accept medication from Western-trained doctors After his return to Nigeria Fela began building his own club, the Shrine in Ikeja The frequent raids by police and military officials was almost constant His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area around the club with hard drug particularly "bana" and "yamuna" heroin However, Fela maintained an uncompromising integrity His music is a testament of his determination to challenge authority and demanding that the popular goals are reflected in official goals It is a remarkable legacy that will be remembered for generations to come He was a poet Fela's music used sarcasm and humor to bring attention to the political and economic issues in Nigeria He also poked fun at his audience, government, and even himself During these shows, he referred to himself as "the big fish in the small pond" These jokes were not viewed lightly by the authorities and he suffered repeated arrests and imprisonments, as well as beatings at the hands of the authorities He eventually took the name Anikulapo which translates to "he has death in his pouch" In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to mindless zombies who obeyed orders without hesitation This irritated the military, which raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its occupants During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown out of her second-floor window In the years following Nigeria's independence, Fela created Afrobeat, a genre of music that combined jazz with native African rhythm His songs criticized European cultural imperialism and defended traditional African religions and culture He also criticized fellow Africans for betraying their country's tradition He also stressed the importance of freedom and human rights He was a rapper A saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria He grew up listening to jazz and rock and roll, as well as traditional African music and chants which helped shape 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 influenced his work profoundly The music of Fela became a political instrument after his return to Nigeria He criticized the government of his native country, and argued against Western sensibilities that affected African culture He also wrote about social injustices and human right violations He was arrested repeatedly for his criticism of the military Fela was also a proponent of marijuana in Africa, which is known as "igbo" He also held "yabis" public discussions at the Afrika Shrine where he would mock government officials and express his views on freedom of expression and beauty of women's body Fela had a harem, an ensemble of young women who performed at his shows as well as supported his vocally He was a dancer Fela was a master of musical fusion He incorporated elements from jazz, beat music and highlife to create his own distinct style He was a prominent African musician and vocal critic of colonial rule Despite being tortured and arrested by the Nigerian military junta and witnessing his mother killed, Fela refused to leave the country He died in 1997 from AIDS-related complications Fela was a political activist who was a critic of the oppressive Nigerian government and believed in 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 pushed for black power and decried Christianity and Islam as non-African imports, which have been used to divide the people of Africa The title track on an album released in 1978, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the over-crowded public buses filled with poor workers "shuffering and smiling" Fela was a staunch opponent of religious hypocrisy Fela's music was enhanced by his dancers, who were vibrant, sensual, and regal Their contributions to the show were as significant as the words of Fela He was a militant in the political arena Fela Kuti utilized music as a weapon to challenge oppressive authorities He made use of his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African modes and rhythms, resulting in music that is ready for battle The majority of his songs start with slow-burning instrumentals He layers notes, riffs and other elements until they explode with urgency Fela like many artists who were scared to speak about their politics He was adamant and unbending He stood up for what he believed in even when it was risky His mother, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a fervent feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women's movement His father was a protestant minister, and the head of the teachers' union He also founded Kalakuta Republic - a recording studio and commune that became a symbol of the resistance The government raided Kalakuta's Republic, destroying property and severely injured Fela He refused to relent however, and continued to protest against the government He passed away in 1997 due to complications arising from AIDS His son Femi continues to carry his legacy of music and politics He was a father Music is often seen by many as a form of political protest Artists use lyrics to call for change Some of the most powerful musical performances are not supported by words Fela Kuti was one such artist and his music continues to ring out today He was the first to pioneer Afrobeat which combines traditional African harmonies and rhythms with jazz and funk, in the style of artists like James Brown Fela's mother, Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti, was an activist and unionist who fought 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 whole population Seun Fela's son continues to carry the legacy of his father with a group dubbed Egypt 80 The band is touring the world in this year The band's music blends the sounds and political stances of Fela's day with a passionate critique of the same power structures that continue to exist in the present The new album, Black Times, will be released in March Thousands of fans attended the funeral and paid their respects in Tafawa Balewa Square The crowd was so huge that police had to block the entrance to the venue