Femi Kuti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Femi Kuti
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Kuti performing on 10 November 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti |
| Born | 16 June 1962 London, England |
| Origin | Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Genres | Afrobeat, jazz, Funk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone, vocals, trumpet, keyboards |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels | BMG |
Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti (born June 16, 1962), known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician. He was born in London, England, and grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Femi is the oldest son of Fela Kuti, who was a pioneer of Afrobeat music. His grandmother was Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a famous political activist and champion for women's rights.
Femi Kuti started his music journey playing in his father's band, Egypt 80. In 1986, Femi decided to form his own band, called Positive Force. This helped him become known as a unique artist, separate from his father's fame.
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About Femi Kuti
Femi Anikulapo Kuti was born in London. His parents were Fela and Remilekun (Remi) Ransome-Kuti. He spent his childhood in Lagos, Nigeria. When Femi was young, his mother left his father and took Femi to live with her. However, in 1977, Femi chose to move back in with his father.
Femi began playing the saxophone when he was 15 years old. He later joined his father's band. He attended Baptist Academy and Igbobi College for his education.
Like his father, Femi has always cared deeply about social and political issues. His grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was also a strong voice for change and women's rights. Even though his father was a global music star, Femi considers his mother, Remilekun Taylor, to be his biggest inspiration.
Starting His Own Band
Femi formed his band, Positive Force, in the late 1980s. He worked with Dele Sosimi, who used to be a keyboard player in Fela Kuti's band. Femi's music career began to grow internationally in 1988. He was invited to perform at big music events in France and Germany.
In 2001, Femi worked with several American musicians on his album Fight to Win. These artists included Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright.
In 2002, Femi helped create a new version of his father's famous song, "Water No Get Enemy." This song was part of a special CD called Red Hot & Riot. This album honored Fela Kuti. Femi's song featured hip-hop and R&B artists like D'Angelo and Macy Gray. All the money from this CD went to charities that help people learn about or fight against AIDS.
Femi Kuti's voice can also be heard in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. He is the host of a radio station called IF 99, which plays funk music.
Grammy Nominations and Recent Work
Femi has been nominated for a Grammy Award four times in the world music category. These nominations were in 2003, 2010, 2012, and 2013. He has not won a Grammy yet.
On December 19, 2014, Femi Kuti signed a management deal with Chocolate City Music Group. This news was shared on social media.
On February 5, 2021, Femi Kuti and his son, Made Kuti, released a special two-album project called Legacy+. This project was released under Partisan Records. It includes Femi's eleventh album, Stop the Hate, and Made's very first album, For(e)ward.
Femi Kuti's Activism
Femi Kuti is the son of Afrobeat singer and activist Fela Kuti. Femi inherited his father's passion for both music and fighting for what is right. He started playing saxophone and keyboard with his father's band at age 16. After his father passed away, Femi stepped up to write and sing his own songs.
Femi continues to be very involved in politics. His high-energy funk, jazz, and traditional African songs often talk about important issues. These include political corruption, poverty, and difficult living conditions that many people in Nigeria face.
Speaking Out for Africa
Femi Kuti's album Africa for Africa highlighted "Bad Government" as a major problem in Africa. Before the 2011 elections in Nigeria, he told people that he saw "no difference between the three candidates" running for president. He explained that while Nigeria was moving towards democracy, corruption was still widespread. He noted that people were hungry and sick, and the government controlled the media, making it hard for critical voices to be heard.
Kuti also said that many Nigerians do not realize how much better life is in other parts of the world. He pointed out that they suffer daily from power outages and water shortages. He also mentioned that the history of African slavery is not taught in textbooks in Nigeria. He shared similar thoughts during the 2015 elections. He released a remix of his song "Politics Na Big Business" with Tuface Idiibia and Sound Sultan.
Femi's song "Make We Remember" encourages people to recall the words of his father and other "great black people" who fought for Africa's freedom. For a long time, Femi has used his music to inspire and motivate African people to seek change.
Live Performances
On November 22, 2014, Femi Kuti performed at a BMO event. He shared the stage with M.I (Jude Abaga), who was also signed to his new record label.
On April 24, 2015, Femi performed in the 2 Kings concert with his brother Seun Kuti. This concert was special because it was the first time the brothers had performed together.
On May 15, 2017, Femi Anikulapo Kuti was recognized in the Guinness World Records. He set a record for holding a single note on a saxophone for 51 minutes and 35 seconds. He did this using a technique called circular breathing.
Music Albums
Studio Albums
- No Cause for Alarm? (1989)
- M.Y.O.B (1991)
- Femi Kuti (1995)
- Shoki Shoki (1998)
- Fight to Win (2001)
- Day by Day (2008)
- Africa for Africa (2010 /2011)
- No Place for My Dream (2013)
- One People One World (2018)
- Stop the Hate (2021)
Live Albums
- Africa Shrine (Live CD) (2004)
- Live at the Shrine (Deluxe Edition DVD) + Africa Shrine (Live CD) (2005)
Tours
- Le Cabaret Suavage Black Summer Festival, Paris (2015)
- Garforth Festival Garforth, Leeds (2015)
- The Lantern Bristol, UK (2015)
- Band on the Wall Manchester, UK (2015)
- Latitude Festival Suffolk UK (2015)
- Larmer Tree Festival Salisbury UK (2015)
- Walthamstow Garden Party, London, Lloyd Park (2015)
Collections
- The Best of Femi Kuti (2004)
- Femi Kuti The Definitive Collection (2007)
Other Appearances
- "Vampires" (on the album Radio Retaliation by Thievery Corporation) (2008)
- Hope for the Hopeless (2008) – a song with Brett Dennen
- Finding Fela (2014) – a documentary film
- "Arabesque" (on the album Everyday Life by Coldplay) (2019)
Compilations
- Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack (2008, IF99)
Awards and Honours
As of 2022, Femi Kuti has been nominated for six Grammy Awards. He was nominated four times for Best World Music Album (in 2002, 2009, 2011, and 2013). For the 2022 Grammy Awards, Femi and his son Made were nominated for Best Global Music Album. Femi was also nominated for Best Global Music Performance.
On October 20, 2022, the French Ministry of Culture in Paris honored Kuti. He was given the title of Chevalier des arts et des lettres, which means Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
See also
In Spanish: Femi Kuti para niños
- Ransome-Kuti family
- Seun Kuti
- Fela Anikulapo Kuti
