Fela Kuti facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fela Kuti
Kuti in 1970
Background information
Birth name	Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti
Born	(1938-10-15)15 October 1938 Abeokuta, British Nigeria
Died	2 August 1997(1997-08-02) (aged 58) Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Genres	Afrobeat
Occupation(s)	Musician bandleader activist
Instruments	Saxophone vocals keyboards trumpet guitar drums
Years active	1958–1997
Labels	Barclay/PolyGram MCA/Universal Celluloid EMI Nigeria Jofabro Nigeria JVC Wrasse Shanachie Knitting Factory
Associated acts	Africa '70 / Afrika '70 Egypt '80 Koola Lobitos Nigeria '70 Hugh Masekela Ginger Baker Tony Allen Femi Kuti Seun Kuti Roy Ayers Lester Bowie

Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a famous Nigerian musician and activist. He was also known as Abami Eda, which means "Strange Creature". Fela created a new type of music called Afrobeat. This music mixes West African music with American funk and jazz. Many people saw him as one of Africa's most exciting and important music stars.

Fela Kuti was the son of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a Nigerian activist for women's rights. After studying abroad, Fela and his band, Africa 70, became very popular in Nigeria in the 1970s. He often spoke out against the Nigerian military governments. In 1970, he started a community called the Kalakuta Republic, which he declared independent. This community was later destroyed in a military attack in 1978. Fela was arrested by the government in 1984 but was released after 20 months. He continued to make music and perform until his death in 1997. His son, Femi Kuti, now helps to re-release his father's music.

Who Was Fela Kuti?

Fela Kuti's Early Life and Family

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

Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti was born on October 15, 1938. His family was well-known in Abeokuta, which was then part of British Nigeria. His mother, Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was a strong activist against colonial rule. She led the Abeokuta Women's Revolt in 1946. His father, Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was a minister and school principal. He was also the first president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.

Fela's brothers, Beko Ransome-Kuti and Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, were both famous doctors. Fela was also related to the writer Wole Soyinka, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Fela Kuti's Music Education

Fela went to Abeokuta Grammar School. In 1958, he went to London to study medicine. But he changed his mind and decided to study music at the Trinity College of Music. He chose the trumpet as his main instrument. While in London, he formed a band called Koola Lobitos. They played a mix of jazz and highlife music.

In 1960, Fela married Remilekun (Remi) Taylor. They had three children: Femi, Yeni, and Sola. In 1963, Fela moved back to Nigeria, which had just become independent. He started Koola Lobitos again and worked as a radio producer.

How Afrobeat Music Began

Fela called his new music style Afrobeat. It was a blend of different sounds like Fuji music, funk, jazz, highlife, salsa, calypso, and traditional Yoruba music. In 1969, Fela and his band went to the United States. They spent ten months in Los Angeles. There, Fela learned about the Black Power movement from Sandra Smith. This experience greatly changed his music and his political ideas. He then renamed his band Nigeria 70.

Soon after, authorities found out that Fela and his band were in the US without work permits. The band quickly recorded some songs in Los Angeles. These songs were later released as The '69 Los Angeles Sessions.

Fela Kuti's Activism and Challenges

The Kalakuta Republic and Africa '70

After Fela and his band returned to Nigeria, they changed their name to Africa '70. Their songs started to focus on social issues instead of love. Fela created the Kalakuta Republic. This was a community, a recording studio, and a home for many people connected to his band. He declared it independent from the Nigerian government.

Fela also opened a nightclub called the Afrika Shrine. He performed there regularly and held traditional Yoruba ceremonies. He changed his name to Anikulapo, which means "He who carries death in his pouch." This meant he wanted to control his own destiny. He stopped using "Ransome" because he felt it was a "slave name."

Speaking Out Against the Government

Fela's music was very popular in Nigeria and across Africa. He sang in Pidgin English so that more people could understand his messages. However, his music was not popular with the government. The Kalakuta Republic was often raided by soldiers.

In 1977, Fela and Africa 70 released the album Zombie. This album strongly criticized Nigerian soldiers, calling them "zombies" who just followed orders. The album was a huge success, but it made the government very angry. About 1,000 soldiers raided the Kalakuta Republic. Fela was badly beaten, and his elderly mother was seriously hurt after being thrown from a window. The community was burned down, and Fela's studio and instruments were destroyed.

Fela responded by taking his mother's coffin to the Dodan Barracks, the home of General Olusegun Obasanjo. He also wrote two songs, "Coffin for Head of State" and "Unknown Soldier." These songs referred to the official report that claimed an "unknown soldier" had destroyed his home.

Fela Kuti's Marriages

After the attack, Fela and his band stayed at the Crossroads Hotel. In 1978, he married 27 women. Many of them were dancers, composers, and singers in his band. This marriage was to mark the anniversary of the attack on Kalakuta. It also helped protect Fela and the women from false claims by authorities that he was kidnapping them. Later, he decided to have a system where he would have 12 wives at a time.

In 1979, Fela started his own political party called Movement of the People (MOP). He wanted to "clean up society like a mop." The party supported Pan-Africanism, which is the idea of a united Africa.

Later Years and Continued Activism

In 1983, Fela tried to run for president in Nigeria, but he was not allowed to. He formed a new band called Egypt 80. This name showed his belief that ancient Egyptian culture was African and important to African identity. Fela continued to make albums and tour. He angered the government further with his song "I.T.T. (International Thief-Thief)," which criticized powerful figures.

In 1984, the government of Muhammadu Buhari, whom Fela strongly opposed, arrested him. He was accused of currency smuggling. Many groups, like Amnesty International, said the charges were politically motivated. Fela was considered a "prisoner of conscience." He was released after 20 months by General Ibrahim Babangida. After his release, Fela ended his marriages with his 12 wives. He said that marriage could cause jealousy.

Fela continued to release albums with Egypt 80 and toured in the United States and Europe. He remained politically active. In 1986, he performed at a concert for Amnesty International alongside famous artists like Bono and Carlos Santana. In 1989, Fela and Egypt 80 released the album Beasts of No Nation. This album criticized leaders like U.S. President Ronald Reagan and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Fela's album releases slowed down in the 1990s. There were also rumors that he was ill and refusing treatment.

Fela Kuti's Legacy and Influence

Fela Kuti's Death

On August 3, 1997, Fela's brother, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, announced that Fela had died the day before. He said Fela died from problems related to AIDS. However, Fela had denied having AIDS, and his widow also said he did not die from it. His youngest son, Seun, took over leading Fela's band, Egypt 80. The band is still active today as Seun Kuti & Egypt 80.

The Sound of Afrobeat Music

Fela Kuti's unique music style is called Afrobeat. It is a complex mix of jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional Nigerian rhythms. It also has elements of psychedelic soul. Tony Allen, Fela's drummer for 20 years, was very important in creating Afrobeat. Fela once said, "there would be no Afrobeat without Tony Allen."

Fela's band often used two baritone saxophones, which was unusual. They sometimes had two bass players playing together. The electric West African style guitar was also a key part of the sound. It created repeating melodies and rhythms.

Fela's songs often used a call-and-response style in the chorus. His lyrics were simple but meaningful. His songs were also very long, usually 10–15 minutes, and sometimes even 20 or 30 minutes. This length was one reason his music was not as popular outside Africa. He often started with a long instrumental part before he began singing.

Most of Fela's songs were sung in Nigerian pidgin English. He also sang some songs in the Yoruba language. His main instruments were the saxophone and keyboards. He also played the trumpet, guitar, and drums. Fela refused to perform songs again after he had recorded them.

Fela Kuti's Messages in Music

The topics in Fela's songs were often complex. He used his music to comment on politics and society. Many of his songs used parody and satire. His main message was about finding justice by exploring political and social issues that affected everyday people.

Fela was known for his exciting concerts. He called his stage act the "Underground Spiritual Game." He believed that art, including his music, should have a political meaning. His concerts often included female singers and dancers, known as "Queens." These women helped make his music popular. They wore colorful clothes and makeup.

Fela was part of a movement that focused on African culture and identity. He shared his ideas through his music.

Fela Kuti's Political Views

Fighting Corruption and Injustice

Fela was deeply involved in political activism in Africa from the 1970s until his death. He criticized the corruption of Nigerian government officials. He also spoke out against how Nigerian citizens were treated badly. He believed that colonialism was the cause of many problems in Africa.

Corruption was a major issue in Nigeria in the 1970s. The government often rigged elections and carried out military coups. This made poverty, inequality, and instability worse. Fela's protest songs talked about these issues. His political messages were heard all over Africa.

Fela's strong criticism of the Nigerian government came with consequences. He was arrested over 200 times and spent time in jail. His longest time in jail was 20 months after his arrest in 1984. The government also sent soldiers to beat Fela, his family, and friends. They destroyed his homes, instruments, and recordings.

In the 1970s, Fela started writing political columns in newspapers. He called them "Chief Priest Say." These columns were like his famous Yabi Sessions at his Lagos nightclub. In these columns, Fela talked about African history and black beauty. He criticized the Nigerian government, religions, and large companies. He also talked about Western medicine, pollution, and poverty. The newspapers eventually stopped publishing his columns, likely due to pressure from the government.

Fela Kuti's Beliefs

Fela's songs showed his deepest thoughts. His popularity in the 1970s changed how music and politics were connected in Nigeria. In 1984, he criticized the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. In his song "Beast of No Nation," he called Buhari "an animal in a madman's body."

Fela strongly believed in Africa and wanted peace among its people. He thought Africans should support traditional religions and ways of life to fight European cultural influence. The American Black Power movement also shaped Fela's political views. He supported Pan-Africanism and socialism. He called for a united, democratic African republic. He admired African leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Thomas Sankara.

Fela was a strong supporter of human rights. Many of his songs directly attacked dictatorships, especially the military governments in Nigeria. He also criticized other Africans, especially the rich, for not respecting traditional African culture.

Fela also spoke out against the United States. He believed that terms like "Third World" or "undeveloped countries" made developing nations seem inferior. He felt these terms should not be used.

Fela Kuti's Enduring Legacy

Fela Kuti is remembered as an important figure who used his music to share his opinions. Since 1998, the Felabration festival is held every year. His daughter, Yeni Kuti, started this festival to celebrate Fela's life and birthday. After Fela's death, his influence in music and popular culture grew again. His music was re-released, and plays about his life were created. New bands, like Antibalas, continue to play Afrobeat music.

In 1999, Universal Music France re-released 45 of his albums on 26 CDs. In 2003, an exhibition called Black President opened in New York. It featured concerts, films, and art inspired by Fela.

The American singer Bilal remade Fela's 1977 song "Sorrow Tears and Blood" for his album Love for Sale. Bilal said Fela's mix of jazz and folk music influenced him.

The 2007 film The Visitor features Fela Kuti's music. In the film, a professor learns about African music by listening to Fela.

In 2008, an off-Broadway play about Fela's life, called Fela!, became a huge success. It later moved to Broadway in 2009. Famous people like Jay-Z and Will Smith helped produce it. In 2010, Fela! was nominated for 11 Tony Awards.

In 2014, a documentary film called Finding Fela, directed by Alex Gibney, was released. A statue of Fela Kuti stands in Ikeja, Lagos.

In 2021, Fela Kuti was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Also in 2021, a blue plaque was put up at 12 Stanlake Road, Shepherd's Bush, London. This was where Fela first lived when he came to London in 1958. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Fela Kuti among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Images for kids

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  Fela Kuti statue at Ikeja, Lagos

Discography

Live albums

• Live! (with Ginger Baker) (1971)
• J.J.D. (Johnny Just Drop!!) (1977)
• V.I.P. (Vagabonds in Power) (1979)
• Live in Amsterdam (1983)
• Live in Detroit 1986 (2010)

Filmography

• Arena - Fela Kuti: Father of Afrobeat,2020 Plimsoll MamaPut Film for BBC
• My Friend Fela, 2019, Joel Zito Araújo (Casa de Criação Cinema)
• Finding Fela, 2014, Alex Gibney and Jack Gulick (Jigsaw Productions)
• Femi Kuti — Live at the Shrine, 2005, recorded live in Lagos, Nigeria (Palm Pictures)
• Fela Live! Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and the Egypt '80 Band, 1984, recorded live at Glastonbury, England (Yazoo)
• Fela Kuti: Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense & Berliner Jazztage '78 (Double Feature), 1984 (Lorber Films)
• Fela in Concert, 1981 (VIEW)
• Music Is the Weapon, 1982, Stéphane Tchalgadjieff and Jean-Jacques Flori (Universal Music)

See also

In Spanish: Fela Kuti para niños