At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of africas most challenging and charismatic music performers. Notes english 1 this discography is just a list of fela kutis original albums and reissued cds of them available in the world or in japan. Fela kuti teacher dont teach me nonsense lp youtube. In 1969 after visiting america, fela returned to nigeria and opened club afro spot in lagos also changing the groups name to afrika 70. With shakara oloje being recorded in 1971, fela fela ransome kuti was lightyears ahead of his time, with the album consisting of but two songs recorded live, where for all intent and purposes, shakara oloje has to be one of the most shimmering and delightful records ever made, certainly leaning toward the jam side of the spectrum. He wrote and performed several songs attacking political and social conventions in his native country and african society in general. He played with ginger baker on the album ginger baker live with afrika 70 and fela kuti, released in 1971 and along side bobby gass, better known as bobby tench from the jeff beck group, on stratavarious which. Kuti was a primary influence behind the invention and development of afrobeat, the west african fusion of agitprop lyrics and dance rhythms that has been a major medium of social protest for the urban poor since the late 60s. Fela anikulapo kuti 15 october 1938 2 august 1997, or simply fela fe. Fela kuti lived in the kalakuta republic in nigeria, a compound that also housed his family, his bandmates, and a recording studio. Palm wine sound instrumental fear not for man was written in the heat of felas conflict with the military. The title track is a provocation expressing felas lack of fear in the face of the authoritarian regimes brutality. Interesting album where fela kuti explores new boundaries.
The underground spiritual game quannum projects, 2004 is a dj mix of fela kutis music. The top 25 songs that matter right now the new york times. The album features roy ayers who toured nigeria with the band as an opening act in the early 1980s. Hear femi kutis hornfueled new song na their way be that. Concerning about them, you should refer to endo toshiyas discography. The pioneering artist of afrobeat was fela kuti, whose 1973 album. Trivia 2 invented afrobeat music, a blend of psychedelic rock, jazz, and soul with west african rhythms. Songs included in this list are from her studio albums, extended plays. He formed his first band in london in 1959 while studying at. Nigerian singer who was a key figure in the development of afrobeat, blending agitprop lyrics and dance rhythms as a medium for social protest. Fear not for man 1977 by fela kuti, released 19 april 2010 1. Nigerian singer who was a key figure in the development of afrobeat, blending agitprop.
Zombie 197677 by fela kuti, released 14 september 2010 1. Fela kuti nigerian musician and activist britannica. Fela and the africa 70 shakara 1974, vinyl discogs. The founding father of afrobeat music, fela anikulapo kuti died in 1997 of aids. Listen to fela kuti soundcloud is an audio platform that lets you listen to what you love and share the sounds you create 280 tracks. Billy joel performs miami 2017 on broadway jumbotrons for rise up new york. Despite a slew of vinyl reissues in recent years, original fela kuti pressings can be incredibly difficult to come by.
Fela anikulapokuti born 1938 in abeokuta, nigeria began his career playing jazz and highlife. Colomentality chorus he be say you be colonial man you don be slave man before them don release you now but you never release yourself. Wind, which was knocked out of the top spot by billy joels glass houses. This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993. Each sunday, pitchfork takes an indepth look at a significant album from the. Fela in his life time was never a good bedfellow of the military institution. Fela kuti international thief thief lyrics metrolyrics. Fela kuti 1 musician, singer, political activist inspired by black power movement 2 polygamy and marijuana 3 toured united states 4 selected discography 5 sources 6 one of africas most acclaimed musicians, nigerian fela anikulapo kuti is a peculiar latetwentiethcentury mix of sham. When fela anikulapokuti died in august 1997, nigeria lost one of its most controversial and inspirational cultural figures.
Its almost impossible to overstate the impact and importance of fela anikulapo kuti to the global musical village fela kutis death on august 3, 1997 of complications from aids deeply affected musicians and fans internationally, as a musical and sociopolitical voice on a par with bob marley was silenced. Fela anikulapo kuti born 1938 in abeokuta, nigeria began his career playing jazz and highlife. Download fela kuti mp3 songs and albums music downloads. The fab four was also cited in the title of the 2016 rae. Mi gbo o sele mi gbo dada mi ti gbo i no be gentleman at all i no be gentleman at all i no be gentleman at all o i no be gentleman at all, at all i no be gentleman. The very literal story behind expensive shit is mindboggling to the extent that it would be funny were it not so depressing. As a political activist, he believed the army should operate under the mandate of a civil government. Mix fela kuti teacher dont teach me nonsense lp youtube. Fela anikulapo kuti tenor sax, vocals waccompanying musicians. It was written and produced by kuti and recorded with his africa 70 band. Due to kuti s vocal antimilitaristic views, the police saw him and his compound as a. March 29 suede release their eponymous debut album.
This is a discography for fela anikulapo kuti, or simply fela, a nigerian multiinstrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick. The only problem here is that shorter isnt necessarily better with fela. Afrobeat historian chris may celebrates the rarer and lessertravelled corners of fela kutis extraordinary discography. With djs steadily picking up on francois kervorkians championing of fela kutis work, its all too easy to get caught up in kutis discography. Thats how i feel about the music of fela kuti, writes badu. Fela kuti was born on october 15, 1938 in abeokuta, nigeria as olufela olusegum oludotun ransomekuti. Fela anikulapo kuti 15 october 1938 2 august 1997, also professionally known as fela kuti, or simply fela, was a nigerian multiinstrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the afrobeat music genre and human rights activist. January 25 musician and antigovernment activist fela anikulapokuti is charged with. Its the best discography about the recordings by fela kuti. Through the mid2000s, to listen to a mariah album, from lead single to deep. This music special honors singersongwriter billy joels receipt of the library of. Stream tracks and playlists from fela kuti on your desktop or mobile device. The potent political and musical force embodied by fela kuti exploded onto the scene in the late 1960s with a driving rhythmic force that would form afrobeat and ultimately change the face of.
Femi kuti announces new album one people one world, billboard. Fela kuti, byname of olufela olusegun oludotun ransomekuti, also called fela anikulapokuti, born october 15, 1938, abeokuta, nigeriadied august 2, 1997, lagos, nigerian musician and activist who launched a modern style of music called afrobeat, which fused american blues, jazz, and funk with traditional yoruba music kuti was the son of feminist and labour activist funmilayo ransomekuti. Beyonce covered the 1978 song honesty, written by billy joel pictured. Partisan and knitting factory launch fela kuti website the wire. The cover artworks depiction of a monkeys head superimposed on a suited body is a reference to the albums title track, which kuti composed as a commentary on the colonial mentality of africans who adhered to european customs and clothing.
Fela anikulapo kuti 15 october 1938 2 august 1997 was a nigerian singer, saxophonist, dancer and activist, famous for creating the musical genre afrobeat, a cross between african traditional music, jazz and funk. Listen to songs by fela kuti on myspace, stream free online music by fela kuti. The rest rank from merely sufficient to ridiculous. An annotated discography of specific musical references. But in order to hold the cuts to an average 12 minutes, most appear only as part 2 or have otherwise been edited. Mistake live at the berlin jazz festival 1978 zombie.
From the smackedout rolling stones travelogue cocksucker blues, to house music history lesson pump up the volume, to. Here, the africabased writer lindsay barrett maps the extraordinary trajectory of felas life, detailing the emergence of his patented brand of afrobeat, his anarchic lifestyle, and the ongoing battles with the nigerian authorities. Expensive shit is the twelfth fulllength album by afrobeat artist and pioneer fela ransome kuti and his africa 70 band. Its only after have listened several times that i appreciate the album as a whole. Kuti said the albums optimistic lyrical themes underscore the important. Gentleman is a 1973 studio album by nigerian afrobeat musician fela kuti. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. Fela kuti was a nigerian multiinstrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick. Fela kuti biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. The best best of fela kuti, with signature pieces on 2 cds, is fela for beginners, a marvelous overview. Olufela olusegun oludotun ransomekuti, 15 october 1938, abeokuta, nigeria, d. Jackie mclean alto sax walter davis piano herbie lewis bass billy higgins drums. The musical style performed by fela kuti is called afrobeat.
Fela anikulapo kuti 15 october 1938 2 august 1997 was a nigerian multiinstrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the afrobeat genre, and human rights activist. Had he still been alive, fela anikulapo kuti would be celebrating his birthday on the 15th october. Billy joel included british beatlemania in his 1989 opus we didnt start the fire. Water no get enemy by fela kuti samples, covers and. Ghibli composer joe hisaishis sonic accompaniment to kissho tennyo gets reissued.
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