Fela Kuti facts for kids

Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti
	Fela Kuti in 1970
Background information
Birth name	Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti
Born	15 October 1938; Abeokuta, Nigeria
Origin	Abeokuta, Nigeria
Died	2 August 1997 (aged 58); Lagos, Nigeria
Genres	Afrobeat
Occupation(s)	musician, activist
Instruments	Saxophone; Vocals; Keyboards; Trumpet; Guitar; Drums
Years active	1958–1997
Labels	Barclay; PolyGram Records; Barclay; Universal Records; Barclay; MCA; Universal Records; Shanachie Records (US); Celluloid Records; EMI Records Nigeria (Nigeria); JVC Records (Japan); Wrasse Records (UK, US); Knitting Factory Records (US);
Associated acts	Africa '70; Egypt '80; Koola Lobitos; Nigeria ’70; Ginger Baker; Tony Allen; Femi Kuti; Seun Kuti; Roy Ayers;

Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), or just Fela, was a Nigerian musician and composer who was very important in a genre called afrobeat. He played the saxophone, guitar, drums, keyboards and trumpet, and he sang. He was also a human rights activist. The American singer James Brown said that Kuti was one of the originators (starters) of the funk genre.

Kuti died in 1997 of Kaposi's sarcoma, an illness caused by AIDS. In 2008 a musical production called Fela! was created, about Kuti's life and career.

Images for kids

The Ransome-Kuti family around 1940: Reverend Israel and Funmilayo seated, Dolu at back, Fela in foreground and baby Beko, with Olikoye at right
Fela Kuti statue at Ikeja, Lagos