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Fela Kuti Fela is a man of contradictions. That's what makes him so intriguing. People who love him forgive the bad parts of him. His songs often run for longer than 20 minutes and are performed in thick, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is inspired by Christian hymns jazz, classical music Yoruba chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife. He was a musician Fela Kuti embodied that music can be a tool to influence the world. He made use of his music to push for changes in the political and social spheres and his influence is still evident in the world of in the present. His style of music, Afrobeat, is a blend of African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African hip-life music and funk However, it has since evolved into its own style. His political activism was fierce and he did it without fear. He used his music as a protest against corruption by the government and human rights violations. Songs like “Zombie”, “Coffin for the State Head” and others were bold criticisms of Nigeria's dictatorship. He also made his home, Kalakuta Republic, as a hub for political activism as well as an area for gathering with like-minded people. The production features a huge portrait of his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a prominent feminist activist and pioneer of the feminist movement. Shantel Cribbs plays her, and she does an excellent job of expressing her significance in Fela's life. The play also explores on her political involvement. Despite her condition deteriorating she refused to be tested for AIDS. Instead, she chose traditional medicine. He was a singer Fela Ransome-Kuti was a multifaceted man who employed his music as a tool for political change. He is renowned for his creation of Afrobeat, which is a blend of funk and dirty African rhythms. He was a vocal critic of Nigeria's religious and governmental leaders. His mother was an anti-colonial suffragist, so it is not surprising that he is a fan for political commentary and social commentary. His parents hoped that he would be a doctor, but he had other plans. A trip to America changed his perspective forever. The exposure to Black power movements and leaders like Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver would have a profound impact on his music. He embraced an African-centric philosophy which would guide and inform his later work. He was a writer While in the United States Fela was introduced to Black Power activists like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X. The experience inspired him to start an activist movement known as the Movement of the People, and to write songs that reflected his views about black activism and political consciousness. His philosophical ideas were aired in public via the method of yabis, which is an art of public speaking which is referred to as 'freedom of expression'. He also began to impose an ethical code on his band. This included refusing to take medication from Western-trained medical professionals. Fela returned to Nigeria and started building his own club in Ikeja. The snares of officers and police were almost daily. His hangers-on from Mosholashi-Idi-Oro repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drugs, especially the 'yamuna' and 'bana' (heroin). Fela kept his integrity despite this. His music is a testimony to the determination with which he fought authority and demanded that popular ambitions be reflected in official goals. It is an influence that will last for generations. He was a poet Fela's music employed sarcasm and humor to draw attention to economic and political issues in Nigeria. He also made fun of his audience, the government, and even himself. He often referred to himself during these shows as “the big dick in the little pond.” The authorities did not take his jokes lightly and he was frequently detained and imprisoned. He was also beating by the authorities. He eventually took the name Anikulapo, meaning “he has death in his bag.” In 1977, Fela released a song called “Zombie” in which he compared soldiers to mindless zombies who followed orders without asking questions. This irritated the military, which raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela's mother was thrown from her second-floor apartment window. Fela developed Afrobeat during the years that after Nigeria's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that combines jazz and indigenous African rhythm. His songs criticized European cultural imperialism and defended traditional African beliefs and cultures. He also criticized fellow Africans who betrayed their country's traditions. He stressed the importance of human rights and freedom. He was a hip-hop artist A saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was heavily influenced 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 in a profound way. Upon his return to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a tool for political purposes. He was critical of the government in his country of birth and argued that African culture should not be diluted by Western sensibilities. He also wrote about social injustices and human right abuses. He was frequently detained for his criticism of the military. Fela also advocated for the use of marijuana, also known as “igbo” in Africa. He often held public discussions at Afrika Shrine, also known as “yabis” where he would lampoon officials of the government and share his views on freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela had an harem, which was a group of young women who performed at his shows, and also supported his vocally. He was a dancer Fela was a master of musical fusion. He incorporated elements of beat music, and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He influenced generations of African musicians and was a vocal critic of colonial rule. Fela refused to be detained and tortured by the Nigerian military junta as being a witness to the murder of his mother. He died in 1997 from AIDS-related complications. Fela was a well-known political activist who criticized the oppressive Nigerian Government and endorsed the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, like 1973's Gentleman focused on the oppression of both the government and colonial parties. He also pushed for black-power and criticized Christianity, Islam and other non-African imports for dividing the people of Africa. The title track of an album released in 1978, Shuffering and Shmiling, describes the over-crammed public busses packed with workers “shuffering and shmiling.” Fela was a strong opponent of hypocrisy in religion. fela lawyers of Fela were an excellent match for his music. They were vibrant, sensual and regal. Their contributions were as significant as Fela’s words. He was a political militant Fela Kuti utilized music as a weapon to challenge oppressive authorities. He adapted his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African patterns and rhythms and created music that was ready for fight. Most of his songs begin as simmering instrumentals, slowly layering short-lined melodies and riffs until they burst with urgency. Fela like many artists who were scared to discuss their political views He was adamant and unbending. He stood for his beliefs even when it was dangerous to do so. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist who led the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister and president of the teachers' union. He also founded Kalakuta Republic – a recording studio and commune that grew into a symbol of the resistance. The government seized the commune, destroying the property and hurting Fela badly. He refused to relent however, and continued to speak out against the government. He died from complications of AIDS in 1997. His son Femi continues to carry his political and musical legacy. He was a father Music is often seen as a form of political protest, and musicians use lyrics to demand change. Some of the most powerful music demonstrations are not accompanied by words. Fela Kuti is among these artists and his music rings today. He was the first to pioneer Afrobeat music, which combines traditional African rhythms and harmony with hip-hop and jazz that was influenced by artists such as 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 that Nigeria should be serving its all citizens. Seun Fela's son is carrying the legacy of his father through a band named Egypt 80. The band is touring the world in this year. The band's music combines the sounds and politics of Fela's day with a passionate critique of the same power structures that continue to exist today. The new album, Black Times, will be released in March. Thousands of fans paid their respects at the funeral at Tafawa Balewa square. The crowd was so huge that police were forced to shut down the entrance to the location.