10 Reasons You'll Need To Know About Fela Fela Kuti    The life of Fela is full contradictions, and that's part of what makes him fascinating. People who love him will forgive the flaws in him.    His songs are typically 20 minutes long or longer and are performed in a thick Pidgin English that is almost unintelligible. His music is influenced by Christian hymns and classical music. He also incorporates jazz, Yoruba, and highlife with horns and guitars.    He was a musician    Fela Kuti embodied that music can be used to transform the world. He utilized his music to call for social and political changes and his influence is still felt in the world even today. His style of music, Afrobeat, is a synthesis of 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 fierce and frightened. He used his music to protest government corruption and human rights violations. Songs like "Zombie", "Coffin for the State Head" and others were shrewd critiques of Nigeria's regime. The residence he lived in, Kalakuta Republic, as a hub for political activism as well as an opportunity to meet people who were like-minded.    The play includes a large portrait of his late mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a prominent feminist activist and feminist pioneer. She is portrayed by actress Shantel Cribbs, who has successfully conveyed her significance in the life of Fela. The play also highlights her political activism. Despite her condition deteriorating, she refused to be tested for AIDS. Instead she took traditional medicine.    He was a singer    Fela Ransome Kuti was a multifaceted person who utilized music to bring about changes in the political landscape. He is known for creating Afrobeat, a mix of dirty funk with traditional African rhythms. He was a fervent critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders.    Having been raised by an anti-colonial suffragist mom and a feminist father, it's not a surprise that Fela was a fan of social commentary and politics. His parents had hoped that he would become a doctor however, he had other ideas.    A trip to America changed his perspective forever. His music was greatly inspired by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leadership like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He adopted a philosophy of Pan-Africanism, which would inform and guide his later work.    He was a songwriter      While in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. This led him to create an organization called the Movement of the People and compose songs that reflected the ideas he had about political activism and black awareness. His ideas were expressed in public through the way of yabis, an art of public speaking was referred to as 'freedom of expression'. He also began to impose an ethical code of conduct on his band. This included refusing to accept medication from Western-trained medical professionals.    Fela returned to Nigeria and started building his own club in Ikeja. The frequent raids by military and police officials were nearly constant. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area around the club with drugs of all kinds, especially "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person regardless of this. His music is a testament to his determination in challenging authority and ensuring that the desires of the masses are manifested in official goals. It is an amazing legacy that will last 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. He also poked fun at his audience, the government, and even himself. In fela settlements , he would refer to himself as "the big fish in the small pond." These jokes were not accepted lightly by the authorities, and he was repeatedly detained and beatings in the hands of authorities. He eventually adopted the name Anikulapo, meaning "he has death in his bag."    In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to mindless zombies who obeyed orders without hesitation. The military was offended by this and raided Kalakuta Republic. They burned it down and beat its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown out of her second-floor apartment through a window.    In the years after Nigeria's independence, Fela created Afrobeat, an genre of music that combined jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticised European cultural imperialism and defended African traditional religions and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans who sabotaged their nation's traditions. He also stressed the importance of freedom and human rights.    He was a rapper    Fela Anikulapo Kuti, trumpeter and saxophonist, was born in Abeokuta in 1938. He is a pioneer in Afrobeat music. He was inspired by jazz, rock, and roll, as well as traditional African music, chants and music. After his 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 an instrument of political power upon his return to Nigeria. He criticized the government in his home country and argued that African culture should not be submerged by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about societal injustices and human rights violations and was often detained for his criticism of the military.    Fela also advocated for the use of marijuana, also known as "igbo" in Africa. He held "yabis" (public discussions) at the Afrika Shrine where he would ridicule government officials and express his views on the freedom of expression as well as the beauty of women's bodies. Fela had an harem, which was which was a group of women who performed at his shows, and also supported his vocally.    He was a dancer    Fela was a master of musical fusion, combining elements from jazz, beat music and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He was a renowned African musician and a vocal critic of colonial rule.    Fela refused to be detained and tortured by the Nigerian military junta as as witnessing the murder of his mother. He died in 1997 of AIDS-related complications.    Fela was an activist in the political arena who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian government and supported the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums including 1973's Gentleman focused on fighting oppression from both colonial and government parties. He also pushed for black-power and decried Christianity, Islam and other non-African influences for dividing the people of Africa. The title track of an album released in 1978, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the over-crowded public buses packed with workers "shuffering and shmiling." Fela was a fierce opponent of religious hypocrisy. The dancers of Fela were an excellent complement to his music. They were sensual, vibrant, and elegant. Their contributions to the show were as important as Fela's words.    He was an activist for the political cause.    Fela Kuti utilized music as a weapon to confront unjust authorities. He steered his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African patterns and rhythms, resulting in music that is ready for a fight. Most of his songs start with slow-burning instrumentals, then adding little riffs and long-lined melodies until they explode in a flash of vigor.    Fela was, unlike many artists who were scared to discuss their political beliefs He was adamant and unbending. He stood up for what he believed in, even when it was risky. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was an avowed feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister and the president of the teachers' union.    He also founded Kalakuta Republic, a commune and recording studio that was an expression of resistance. The government raided Kalakuta's Republic which destroyed property and injured Fela. He refused to give up however and continued to protest against the government. He passed away from complications of AIDS in 1997. He was succeeded by his son, Femi, who continues to carry on his music and political legacy.    He was a father    Music is often viewed as a political act with musicians using lyrics to call for change. However, some of the most effective music-related protests do not use words in any way. Fela Kuti is one of the artists mentioned above, and his music still rings today. He pioneered Afrobeat, combining traditional African rhythms and harmonies with jazz and funk, inspired by artists like James Brown.    Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was Fela's activist mother. She was a unionist and fought 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 served its the entire population.    Seun Fela's son is carrying the legacy of his father through the band Egypt 80. The band will be touring the globe this year. The band's music is a blend of the sounds and politics of Fela's era with a searing denunciation of the same power structures that persist today. Black Times will be released at the end March. Thousands of fans attended the funeral and paid respects in Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so large that police were forced to block the entrance to the location. 

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