Fela Kuti
Latest News on Fela Kuti:
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Date of Birth:
October 15, 1938
Date of Death:
August 02, 1997 (58)
Birth Place: Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Bio:
Fela Ransome Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, north of Lagos in 1938. His father was a Christian schoolmaster, minister and master pianist and his mother was a world-recognized feminist leader, who was very active in the anti-colonial Nigerian women's movement during the struggle for ...
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Latest News on Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti Biography
Fela Ransome Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, north of Lagos in 1938. His father was a Christian schoolmaster, minister and master pianist and his mother was a world-recognized feminist leader, who was very active in the anti-colonial Nigerian women's movement during the struggle for independence.Fela was educated in Nigeria amongst the indigenous elite. Ironically, many of his classmates in his Nigerian school would become the very military leaders he so vociferously opposed.
With medical aspirations for their offspring (Fela's older brother. Koye, was to become a Deputy Director of the World Health Organization and his younger brother, Beko, President of the Nigerian Medical Association) in 1958 Fela's parents sent him to London for a medical education. Instead, he registered at Trinity College's school of music where he studied composition and chose the trumpet as his instrument. Quickly tiring of European composers, Fela, struck by Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra, formed the Koola Lobitos in 1961, and his band became a fixture in London's club scene. Two years later, Fela returned to Nigeria, restarted the Koola Lobitos, and became influenced by James Brown. Trying to find an authentic musical voice, he added elements of traditional Yoruba, high life and jazz, and "Afrobeat" was born. In 1969, Fela's Koola Lobitos traveled to Los Angeles to tour and record. During his eight months in the US, with LA as a home base, Fela befriended Sandra Isidore, who introduced him to the writings and politics of Malcolm X, Eldridge Cleaver and other proponents of Black nationalism and Afrocentrism.
With this new politically explicit and critical worldview, Fela reformed the Koola Lobitos as Nigeria 70 and returned to Lagos. He founded a commune/recording studio called the Kalakuta Republic, complete with his own private nightclub, The Shrine, and Fela dropped his given middle name "Ransome," and replaced it with a Yoruba name "Anikulapo" (meaning "he who carries death in his pouch"). Playing constantly and recording at a ferocious pace, Fela and band (who were now called Africa 70) became huge stars in West Africa and beyond. His music served as a rallying cry for the disenfranchised, critiquing the military government, and made Fela not only a pop star but thrust him into political life. People took to the streets singing his songs and the military responded by viciously harassing Fela, jailing him and nearly killing him on several occasions.
In 1977, during a government-sanctioned attack on his Kalakuta Republic commune, Fela and other members of his commune were arrested; Fela himself suffered a fractured skull as well as other broken bones; a number of women living at Kalakuta were beaten and raped; and his 82-year old mother was thrown from an upstairs window, inflicting injuries that would later prove fatal. The soldiers set fire to the compound and prevented fire fighters from reaching the area. Fela's recording studio, all his master tapes and musical instruments and the only known copy of his self-financed film Black President were destroyed.
After the Kalakuta tragedy, Fela briefly lived in exile in Ghana, returning to Nigeria in 1978. A year later, he formed his own political party, MOP (Movement of the People) and ran for president in two elections, although his campaigning was consistently blocked by the military. As the '80s ended, Fela recorded blistering attacks against Nigeria's corrupt military government.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti was arrested more than two hundred times in his life, and charged with almost every conceivable crime, although only serving one eighteen month sentence in jail for a currency violation. Despite this constant harassment he continued to live in Nigeria even though, as an icon in the international world of rock and roll, soul, jazz and hip-hop, he could have at any point abandoned Nigeria and led the life of an international music superstar. His death on August 3, 1997 of complications from AIDS deeply affected musicians and fans internationally, as a unique and ineffable musical and sociopolitical voice was lost. In Nigeria one million people attended his funeral. His incredible body of work, almost 70 albums, is now available, through public demand, all over the world.
Fela Kuti News
Ali Farka Touré Shares 'Cherie' Featuring Oumou Sangaréby Michael Major - Feb 13, 2023
Voyageur, the new album from the legendary African guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré, is out next month on World Circuit Records. In anticipation of the forthcoming record World Circuit is debuting the new track “Cherie” featuring acclaimed Malian diva and longtime friend of Touré’s Oumou Sangaré.
The Apollo Season Features Jazz Commission And Hip-Hop Concerts, AFRICA NOW! Festival, And Moreby A.A. Cristi - Jan 10, 2023
As The Apollo gears up for a historic 2023 with the opening of The Apollo's Victoria Theater and the renovation of the Historic Theater, the iconic Harlem nonprofit announced additional upcoming concerts, comedy shows, and educational programs for the winter and spring of 2023.
Madame Gandhi Releases 'Vibrations' Short-Form LPby Michael Major - Dec 23, 2022
'Heart Wide Open,' produced by MNDR (Tokimonsta, Carly Rae Jepsen) and Ebonie Smith (Santigold, Janelle Monáe) is a joyous explosion of jazzy, brassy rhythms that happen to double as an homage to Fela Kuti's legacy of life-affirming anthems. Finally, the closer 'Set Me Free' transports you with hope to a paradise soundscaped with bright horns.
World Music Institute Presents Underground System, Locobeach & Cheo Pardoby A.A. Cristi - Nov 1, 2022
World Music Institute presents Underground System, Locobeach & Cheo Pardo.
Grammy-Nominated Jazz Vocalist Somi to Debut at Carnegie Hall in Novemberby Blair Ingenthron - Oct 23, 2022
Somi is preparing to make her debut performance at Carnegie Hall with her own band on November 18. This highly-anticipated debut concert will offer a transatlantic mix of modern jazz, soul, and African pop, calling upon Somi's all-star tribute to the great “Mama Africa” on Zenzile.
Marcus King Releases Cover of Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy'by Michael Major - Oct 19, 2022
Marcus King has released two tracks for Spotify’s Singles program, an afrobeat inspired version of 'Crazy', famed by Gnarls Barkley, as well as a full band reimagining of King’s instant classic song 'It’s Too Late'. Both songs were recorded at Electric Lady, home to classic artists including Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, and David Bowie.
Kaleta & Super Yamba Band, Emma Willmann & More Featured in The Kennedy Center's November Millennium Stage Scheduleby Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 13, 2022
Millennium Stage is a manifestation of the Kennedy Center’s mission and vision to welcome all to celebrate our collective cultural heritage. Millennium Stage will offer free live community performances, streamed live, plus online programs and film screenings, Wednesday–Sunday each week throughout our campus.
Ronald K. Brown's EVIDENCE, A Dance Company Returns To New Orleans For Two Special Performances November 4 & 5by A.A. Cristi - Oct 3, 2022
The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) and the NOCCA Foundation (NOCCA) proudly present the return of audience favorite Ronald K. Brown / EVIDENCE, A Dance Company (EVIDENCE) at the Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA on November 4th and 5th at 7:30 p.m.
Madame Gandhi Announces 'Vibrations' Short-Form Albumby Michael Major - Sep 29, 2022
rtist and activist Madame Gandhi (Kiran Gandhi) announced Vibrations, a short-form album set for release later this year via Sony Music. It’s the final project in a three-part series — following Voices (2016) and Visions (2019) — that looks at personal liberation, activism, being in service, and evolving in love.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 8, 2022
For the first time in years, legendary Afrobeat artist and Kuti family scion SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 are relentlessly touring the globe with their ongoing US, UK, and European tour, hitting stops at major festivals and unique venues along the way. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 will be performing classic anthems and songs from their catalogue—including the most recent Grammy®-nominated album Black Times—alongside new material.
Fela Kuti Videos
by Stage Tube - Feb 8, 2022
Returning to The Joyce for their 2022 home season, Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE offers a compelling program, bringing a spiritual awareness that touches the human heart.
by Stage Tube - Sep 23, 2021
Hailed as a “modern dance savior” by the New York Times, Ronald K. Brown returns to fuse the form, rhythm, and history of African dance with contemporary and urban dance styles. In Mercy, a Kennedy Center co-commission (the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Carolina Performing Arts, UNC Chapel Hill, and The Joyce Theater’s Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New York), Brown finds an ideal collaborator in visionary vocalist, composer, and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello.
by Stage Tube - May 26, 2020
It's been over a decade since Fela! first took Broadway by storm, and still, in 2020, its cast is united and making a difference. Oneika Phillips, who starred in the 2012 return engagement, put out a call to her cast mates to come together for the #DontRush Challenge. 'It evolved into an even more meaningful project with layers of celebration such as aligning with the ten-year anniversary of the show's 11 Tony nominations, including Sahr as Fela and Lillias White as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. A decade ago, we were at the height of breaking ceilings and blowing minds on Broadway,' writes Phillips.
by Stage Tube - Apr 2, 2020
Feinstein's/54 Below has released their latest #54BelowatHome flashback video! In today's video, watch Lillias White perform 'When You Wish Upon a Star.' The performance was part of Lillias White: Make Someone Happy on July 30, 2019 at Feinstein's/54 Below.
by Abigail Charpentier - Nov 22, 2019
Tel Aviv trumpeter Sefi Zisling releases his sophomore album, Expanse today via Tru Thoughts. Building on his debut LP Beyond The Things I Know, released on Raw Tapes – Tel Aviv's leading collective, and championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music), Stamp The Wax, Toshio Matsuura (Worldwide FM), NTS, FIP, Radio Nova, Twistedsoul – Expanse is fronted by lead-single “Happy Solar Return ft. Kutiman”, a nine-minute afro-beat voyage and “Flip Mode” a free-funk Sun Ra homage. The project so far has garnered support from Bandcamp Weekly, Cerys Matthews (BBC 6Music), Jazziz, Worldwide FM, Music is My Sanctuary, KCRW, KEXP, Ruth Fisher, Tim Garcia (Jazz FM), Twistedsoul, alongside playlist support from 'Spotify's State of Jazz'.
by Abigail Charpentier - Oct 30, 2019
“Flip Mode” is the second-single from Sefi Zisling's sophomore album Expanse – out Nov 22 via Tru Thoughts. Inspired by Sun Ra's use of abstract melodies on the jazz-fusion classic Lanquidity – “Flip Mode” embraces the free-funk, creating a distinctive groove that allows the track to stand out from the rest of the record.
by Caryn Robbins - Dec 21, 2017
On last night's TONIGHT SHOW, music guest Erykah Badu performed a medley of her hit 'On & On' and a cover of Fela Kuti's 'Sorrow Tears and Blood' with a little help from The Roots.
by Randy Rainbow - Feb 2, 2013
Former member of Destiny's Child Michelle Williams joined the national tour of the hit Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! when it opened at Sidney Harman Hall in Washington, DC on January 29. Fela! received three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Choreography. Williams and the rest of the cast met the press just last week, and you can check out what they had to say below!
by BroadwayWorld TV - Jan 18, 2013
Ginger Baker is known for playing in Cream and Blind Faith, but the world's greatest drummer didn't hit his stride until 1972, when he arrived in Nigeria and discovered Fela Kuti's Afrobeat. After leaving Nigeria, Ginger returned to his pattern of drug-induced self-destruction, eventually settling in South Africa, where the 73-year-old lives with his young bride and 39 polo ponies. This documentary includes interviews with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Carlos Santana and more. With every smash of the drum is a man smashing through life, and smashing the filmmaker's nose on the last day of filming.
by Stage Tube - Apr 10, 2012
Currently playing at the Oriental Theatre, FELA! has entered its final week of performances with Broadway in Chicago. Two of the lead actors from the touring production of the Broadway musical stopped by at ABC 7's studios for a special performance. Watch the video of the performance below!
