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Fela Kuti Fela is a man with contradictions. That's what makes him so intriguing. People who love him accept the bad parts of him. His songs can last 20 minutes or more, and are performed in dense, almost incomprehensible Pidgin English. His music is influenced primarily by Christian hymns and classical music. He also incorporates jazz, Yoruba, and highlife with horns and guitars. He was a musician Fela Kuti embodied the idea that music can be an instrument of change. His music was used to argue for social, political and economic reforms. His influence can be present today. Afrobeat is a musical style that blends African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music as well as funk. However, it has evolved into a completely new genre. His political activism was fierce and he took action without fear. He made use of his music to speak out against corruption in government and human rights abuses. Songs like “Zombie”, “Coffin for the State Head” and others were blatant critiques of Nigeria's regime. He also made his home, Kalakuta Republic, as a hub for political activism and an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. The play includes a large portrait of his late mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who was a well-known feminist activist and feminist pioneer. She is played by actress Shantel Cribbs who has successfully conveyed her significance in the life of Fela. The play also explores her political activism. Despite her condition deteriorating she refused to be tested for AIDS. Instead she took traditional treatment. He was a singer Fela Ransome Kuti was a multifaceted person who utilized music to bring about political change. He is known for creating Afrobeat, a mix of dirty funk with traditional African rhythms. He was also a relentless critic of Nigeria's political and religious leaders. His mother was a suffragist who was anti-colonial, so it is not surprising that he has a passion for social commentary and politics. His parents believed that he would be a doctor however, he had other plans. A trip to America changed his perspective forever. Exposure to Black power movements and leaders like Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver had a profound effect on his music. He adopted a philosophy of Pan-Africanism, which would guide and inform his later work. He was a music producer 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 compose songs that reflected his ideas about black activism and political consciousness. His philosophical ideas were aired through the medium of yabis, an art of public speaking is referred to as “freedom of expression”. He also began to impose an ethical code of conduct on his band. This included refusing to accept prescriptions from Western-trained physicians. After returning to Nigeria Fela began to build his own club The Shrine in Ikeja. The raids by military and police officials were almost daily. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers repopulated the area surrounding the club with hard drugs, especially “bana” and “yamuna” (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person regardless of this. His music demonstrates the determination with which he fought authority and demanded that the desires of the masses be reflected in official objectives. It is a remarkable legacy that will endure for generations to come. He was a poet In his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to highlight economic and political issues in Nigeria. He also ridiculed his audience as well as the government and himself. During these shows, he would refer to himself as “the big dick in the pond with a little.” These jokes were not viewed lightly by the authorities, and he suffered repeated arrests, imprisonments and beatings at the hands of authorities. He eventually took the name Anikulapo which translates to “he is carrying death in his pocket.” In 1977, Fela recorded a song called “Zombie,” which compared soldiers to mindless zombies that obeyed orders without hesitation. The military was offended by the song and they raided the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela's mother was thrown from her second-floor window. Fela developed Afrobeat in the decades that after Nigeria's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that combines jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticised European cultural imperialism, and he favored traditional African traditions and religions. He also criticized fellow Africans who betrayed their country's customs. He also stressed the importance of freedom and human rights. He was a rapper Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a saxophonist and trumpeter, was born in Abeokuta in 1938. He is a pioneer of Afrobeat music. He was heavily influenced by rock, jazz, and roll as well as traditional African music, chants, and music. After a trip to the United States, Fela met Sandra Smith. She was an activist in the Black Power Movement. Her ideas influenced his work. Upon his return to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a political tool. He criticized 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 rights abuses, and was repeatedly arrested for his criticism of the military. Fela was also a proponent of marijuana in Africa that is also known as “igbo”. He frequently held public discussions at Afrika Shrine, called “yabis” which was where he would slam government officials and spread his beliefs about freedom of expression and the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had a harem of young women who performed in his shows and acted as vocal backups to him. He was a dancer Fela was a master of musical fusion. He combined elements of jazz, beat music, and highlife to create his own unique style. He influenced a generation African musicians and was an outspoken critic of colonial rule. Fela refused, despite being tortured and arrested by the Nigerian military junta as well having witnessed the murder of his mother. He died in 1997 of AIDS-related complications. Fela was a prominent political activist who was critical of the oppressive Nigerian Government and endorsed the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums including 1973's Gentleman focused on the issue of oppression by both government bodies and colonial parties. He also promoted black-power and decried Christianity, Islam and other non-African influences for dividing the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track of an album from 1978. It describes crowded public buses filled with people who are poor, “shuffering and smiling”. Fela was a fierce anti-religious hypocrisy. His music was in turn complemented by his dancers, who were vibrant sensual, regal, and sensual. Their contributions were just as important as Fela's lyrics. He was a militant in the political arena. Fela Kuti utilized music as a way to challenge oppressive authorities. He adapted his knowledge of American jazz and funk to African styles and rhythms and created a sound that was ready for fight. Most of his songs start with slow-burning instrumentals, then layering little riffs and long-lined melodies until they burst with urgency. Unlike many artists, who were afraid to expose their political beliefs, Fela was fearless and uncompromising. He stood up for what he believed in even when it was risky. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist who led the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister and the president of the teachers' union. fela settlements established Kalakuta Republic – a recording studio and commune that became an emblem of the resistance. The government seized the commune, destroying the property and injured Fela severely. He refused to give up, however and continued to speak against the government. He passed away in 1997 due to complications arising from AIDS. He was succeeded by his son, Femi, who continues to continue his musical and political legacy. He was a father Music is often viewed as a political act, with artists using lyrics to call for change. But some of the most effective music-related protests don't rely on words at all. Fela Kuti is one these artists, and his music still is heard today. He pioneered Afrobeat that combines traditional African rhythms and harmonies, with funk and jazz, being influenced by artists such as James Brown. Fela's mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was an activist and unionist who stood up against colonialism. She helped form the Abeokuta Women's Union and fought against gender-discriminatory taxation laws. She also studied marxism and believed in a Nigeria which served its all of its citizens. Seun, Fela's Son, continues to carry the legacy of his father with a band named Egypt 80. The band is touring the world in this year. The band's music combines the music and politics of Fela's time with a fervent denial of the same power structures that continue to exist today. The new album, Black Times, will be released in March. A large number of fans attended the funeral and paid their respects in Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so huge that the police had to block the entrance.