Fela Kuti
2009-11-22
When I was 17, in 1987, I went to New Orleans by myself for a few days.
Guitar on my shoulder, I took a taxi to the airport, and the driver said, “A musician! What kind of music do you play?”
After telling him, and asking where he's from, he said, “I'm from Nigeria! You must hear the best Nigerian musician, Fela Ransome Kuti.” He wrote it on a piece of paper for me.
Back in suburban Chicago, I had to drive 20 miles to a good record store, to ask them if they had anything by Fela Kuti. I got “O.D.O.O.”, “Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense”, and “No Agreement” on cassette.
I put in O.D.O.O. It started with just a repeating woodblock on the 1st and 2nd 16th note of each beat. Then a deeper muted conga syncopating against it around the 2 and 4. Then a delicate drum kit joined in, tying it together. Ride cymbal opens up. Ride cymbal falls back. Ride cymbal opens up. Ride cymbal falls back. Then it stops and drops down to two interlocking guitars. Then the drums all come back in. Then the bass. Then the huge syncopated horns. Ah.... Love it.
It's a 30-minute-long song. No chord changes. Just different aspects of the arrangement coming in and out. Little interlocking ingredients, each featured enough for you to understand and appreciate their syncopation against the others. His talking-singing vocals come in, then the piercing female background vocals answer him in chant. Then it breaks down to keyboards and a sax solo.
Funky. Unique. Amazing. It was life-changing for me. It became my favorite music. Afrobeat.
Hear some of his music at last.fm. Watch some live concert video at YouTube.
Fela influenced James Brown and James Brown influenced Fela. Brian Eno and Talking Heads wore their Fela influence proudly on the amazing “Remain in Light” album. I love that I could now hear the influence.
I went to Berklee College of Music that year, and told everyone about Fela Kuti. He came to perform in Boston, but I couldn't get anyone else to come with me, so I went by myself to a little club, and pushed my way to the front, elbows on the stage, looking straight up at Fela and his 20-piece band for two hours. Awesome.
Berklee had an Afrobeat ensemble, so I joined as a guitarist for two semesters. I loved being just one rhythmic instrument in a big syncopated arrangement. Each of us a tiny but crucial part of the groove.
In 1990, I moved to New York City and saw Fela perform at the Apollo Theater. You can hear his influence in some of my music around then.
He died in 1997. I'm so glad I got to see him live.
Tonight I feel I saw him live again.
I saw the Broadway show “Fela!” - which did an amazing job at recreating his music and telling his story.
If you live near New York City or are visiting any time soon (2009-2010), I highly recommend you book some tickets at FelaOnBroadway.com. It's one of the best ways to get turned on to his music and understand the context of it, too.
...and this might be why I tune into your "show"... ha...
...thanks for the introduction. As a matter of fact...will be in NYC ... might check it out.
Cheers!
~rhonda
I grew up with the GA Sea Island Singers.
I know very well the spacial rhythms within the structure, hearing only their voices and hand clapping, feet stomping, that supported their amazing harmonies.
Thanks for this, Derek!
thanks for the suggestion Derek! Will check it out ;)
Great post Derek!! Thanks for sharing. I was turned on to Fela much the same way back in the 80's as well.
There's a pretty good version of the Fela documentary "Black President" on youTube. Highly recommended.
BS
Fela is one of my favorite artists. I remember when I first herd his music I thought I had "discovered" him! You can definitely see some things in common between him and JB. Femi Kuti (his son) is a good musician as well.
Fela da MAN!
Freedom fighter
Derek-
So true... Fela is one of the greatest as he has influenced so many major artists in addition to the ones mentioned here. He was someone who could break down walls with his voice, and set the stage for many of the political changes that happened in Africa in the 70's and 80's.
Thanks for bringing him into the light in 2009!
Respect-
Steffen
Fela is a huge hero of mine. For hsi music and for his political stance and courage. I was playing his song "Zombie" in 1980 in my band in Vermont. It always got the crowd dancing their asses off. Years later I wrote a song called "Prisoner" in his style as a tribute to him. We still do it in one of my current bands. 4 horns, percussion, guitar bass and drums. We feature a big talking drum solo on the song that people love. As Fela said "Music is the weapon of the future!"
Yes! Yes! Afrobeat! Fela!
This music is as funky as it gets. If you want to play funkier, study this stuff.
Some of my closest friends and collaboratrs are members of Antibalas, the band that plays onstage in Fela! For the past decade, they've been exposing thousands to this brilliant and almost forgotten music.
I've been influence greatly by these guys, and even have found music I've made in unrelated styles (children's music, film scores) to bear the unmistakable rhythms of Afrobeat.
Doesn't surprise me that Derek appreciates it!
Fela was a legend that had great influence on music, culture and politics in Africa particularly and beyond.
I thank God for your person who sincerely credits Fela with the influence he had on you. That's not just wisdom, but it clearly shows how much you've learnt and how far you've gone in the ladder of life.
God bless you Derek
Hey Derek,
Fela had a wicked rhythm section! The drummer, Tony Allen, simply awesome! He still performs (he should be on youtube).
You're a lucky man, meeting him personally and watching him perform live!
Thanks Derek for sharing this. I will check it out, and pass it on. Getting turned on to new and inspiring sounds are among my favorite things about having musician/music lover friends.
massive influence on me too
This is surreal. I just worked with the son of Fela Kuti's drummer (I-AM-SOUL.COM) yesterday and here you are talking about this today!
Derek,
Thanks for the article. When the cab driver asked you what kind of music do you play, what was your answer? And how can I hear some of your music? How do you earn your living now that you've sold the business? Thanks, Frank
So glad to know this about you, Derek. Ahh, the kinship grows. I have been a Fela fan for 20 years and was thrilled to see Fela! when it was off-bway and have tickets to see it on Broadway next week. Really looking forward to see what changes Bill Jones had to make in it. An amazing show about a truly mythic and fascinating human being. Fela lives!
This is a great example of beauty in simplicity. I try and try to get fellow musicians to jam on one or two chords and the attention span just isn't there sometimes. There is so much to do with dynamics and arrangement as you say - it doesn't have to be different chords all the time.
Derek, thanks for sharing this.
Rhan
Indeed, this is better than I thought than the way you described his music. He has got a jazzy sound that is mixed over his Afrobeats. I was quite impressed! Thanks for sharing! Perhaps this influence will come out in some form or another with me.
Solitoode
I remember when I heard and then saw Sun Ra,
It was the same feeling you got from Fela.
Absolutely unique and strange and wonderful.
I saw Cecil Taylor and Ornette Coleman and that was also wild and deeply moving.
Far reaching and fascinating.
Thanks for sharing D,
Peace
Derek -
I live on Long Island and my Wife and her sister saw FELA last week. Neither are musicians, thought they love music. They were
both so taken by the effect of the music that on Saturday at a family dinner, my sister-in-law insisted on pulling out her laptop and playing some of FELA's music for everyone.
She also got tickets for four aunts and uncles.
Larry Hunter
Yeh!
Fela's approach to music was very unique, a master of call and response and jam vibes. He's been a huge influence on my band and writing, rhythmically and otherwise. Fela's influence got me into afro-beat and Malinke tribal rhythms from Guinea. Up here in Toronto, Canada, there's a huge community of African music lovers and drummers. Thanks for posting this Derek, i never knew you were so into him, great that you caught him live, he was only here one time to play so i missed him in the early 80's...but i did see King Sunny Ade', my first African performer, and he was great also.
Cheers,
Chris
Fela isn't only the greatest exponent of afro-beat ,but possibly the greatest most courageous political activist of all time.I Love you fela.
I agree-- saw the previews last year... so good!! So glad it made it to Broadway.
Thanks for turning me on to him several years ago!
Derek,
yeah, Fela is a powerful figure in my music library, too. i was immediately drawn to his message and his oft Dorian modal chord changes. i'm happy that you have spoken of him. he fought and loved and played heavy music, and i can only imagine what he must have been to see live in a little club! great post.
Dave
I'm there !!! Thanks Derek!
I have never heard of Fela til now.In the same vein most artists I have played with have never heard of my musical heroes like Jagjit and Chitra Singh, Shaukat Ali, Gurdas Mann etc. I love it when you can listen outside of the box, and find some inspiration. Thanks again Derek.
I touched down in Lagos, Nigeria as a 10 year old, having never set foot outside my state, and never on an airplane.....touching down in a 747. Oh, those were the days. I was immediately taken with sounds of drums and singing by a group at the airport, in brightly colored garments. Their garments were wrapped all around them, and the women wore headwraps that were equally lovely, made of the same gorgeous fabric. The people all over the airport were also listening, and in this backdrop of rythm and color, I arrived enchanted on arrival, at the Lagos International Airport. I have heard that times there have changed, and that Lagos as a city is gravely overpopulated, etc. Nothing, however, can erase my first impressions of West Africa. I am so grateful to have experienced the music there, as I moved there two years later, to Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The voices and harmonies of the African Music cannot be explained easily----just simply gorgeous, rich, and mesmerizing! I feel so blessed. Thanks Derek for letting others know of this marvelous artist who broke the ice in the U.S. with this musical style. Wonderful!
Derek, very cool to hear your music man!! I dig on this a lot and enjoyed the breakdown, which totally took me to back to MJ's Thriller. I hope you're doing well.
Andrew
Hello Derek,
It's been some time away from it all for a minute,but thank you for the reminder as I had missed him during that time.I might be in new York and will try to see the Show on Broadway.
So glad you mention it!
Sonja.
Berklee College of Music was where I learned of his music. Wow, I wonder if it was partially because of you spreading the word among students. I know that we were both in Boston at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
FELA???? everybody say, "Yeah Yeah." Yes, I too have a Fela connection. I got to see Fela perform live TWICE!! Each time, I was 6 months pregnant! The first time, the sound check was more awesome than the live performance, and the live performance was INCREDIBLE!!! Why, because each artist/musician had to solo or groove until the soundman was done. Fela did a crrraaaaazzzzzzzyyyyy keyboard solo!!! So, we got to see him perform twice in one night! The second time, he and his ensemble were angry that the food they had requested, was not ready or was no good. so, they did not perform until the Foo Foo was just right. They started the show like 4 hours "late", everyone waited until they ate. they performed like 5 songs, and played until 2 or 3 am. Each song lasted about 45 min to one hour!!! What about the two brothers at the front of the stage that play the claves ALL NIGHT LONG holding down that "simple and crucial rhythm"?????
One of our early bass players, ID, is from Nigeria, and he played with Fela for a while back home, even grew up in his "compound" when he was a youth! Last connection, family last name is VELA!!!!
So, yeah, Fela and his music are/were amazing and to say he influenced my life, my music, & my African worldview would be an understatement!!!
Is it true that Jay-Z is in the production? Some big hip-hop names??? MY fav tune is ITT International Thief Thief!!!!
Thanks for sharing this, I was a fan of Gulla music long before I ever heard of Fela, but the influences are certainly powerful from both sides of the ocean!
Fela seems to BORROW from David Axelrod a lot!
jj
It's great to read stories of inspiration and also great to see support for NEW theatre on Broadway instead of the plague of revivals and adaptations.
If it is still on when I get back from Thailand I will go see it.
Fela Kuti was the African musician that said Paul McCartney was stealing African beats and music while Paul was in Lagos recording Band On The Run.It is interesting that on the LP BAND ON THE RUN there are some interesting Afrotype beats makes you wonder.
A friend of mine went to see this last week and said it was the best thing he has ever seen/heard/witnessed on stage. I am getting tickets to go in January.
There are some great stories surrounding the funding for this show also. At the official site you can read about ?uestlove's plea to his influential friends to keep this show alive. Jay Z and Jada and Will Smith stepped up and are now listed as Producers. There is much to be learned from this.
yeah Derek, nice one for showing props to fela, one of the greats no doubt !
Hi Derek,
I had a pretty similar experience than yours. I discovered Fela's band at a small club in Paris in the mid 70's and it was a life changing experience for me..(I am a guitar player and I started to play the sax after the show). I was at that show in Boston in 89 and pushed my way in front as well (and waited there 2 hours..he was late as usual but it was well worth it!).
I ended up staying in Boston and formed a large group (Cosmos Factor)in the 90's that emulated and promoted his Afrobeat music as well as originals and salsa/jazz..
I wrote a tune dedicated to him: For Fela (fofela,fofela,fofela, a play on words that means :his is the greatest!)
Thanks for letting me know about that play I'll be there next time I am in NYC.
His music is alive and well with many very good bands playing this style all over the world and his two sons Femi and Seun keep innovating and are holding the Afrobeat torch pretty high!
Fela was the father of "rap". He was doing it
first.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANS DEREK......AS A FORMER GUITARIST OF FELA KUTI..I CAN STILL RELIVE AL THOSE MEMORABLE MOMENT..KALETA
I was with his son's Femi band in New York recently. Huge family ties between the musicians.Like it was previously stated, FEMI's magic was in the political and fearless messages he had for his people. Making and urging them to Walking the walk. Femi has continued the tradition. They hold "jump off" on Sundays where his community turns out to feel the drums and his energy. You're truly fortunate Derek.
Hey Derek,
Pretty good stories, we have lots of Nigerian cab drivers in New Orleans still. I am now trying to help a fellow from Ghana to finish his project, that crazy African music makes one think that music does have some value!
Ciao
Gary
Kulu se Mama for ever
Derek you have such a way of putting a person in your conversation. I was there at each performance as you spoke. I got to check out those sites. I love the experience of live music. Since I watch a lot of PBS on various types of music this is going to take me further in my music.
Thank you.
Paula
You should also check out King Sunny Adé. He uses a pedal steel guitar as his lead instrument on the Lp/CD "Juju Music." Since I play the pedal steel guitar, I was completely turned on by the migration of my instrument to Nigeria.
Catholic school in the '50sfrom what i have heard was a lot like being raised by nazis...lil children having to confess 3 times a day... so being raised by a survivor of fear mongers caused a lack of musical exposure in my life...my imagination was my escape pondering how a guitar mite be played if i was in Spain, or south america, or simply Mexico... so 4 give me if i am way off, but some of this music reminds me of our own frank zappa in the largeness os sound... rc pirate
I just watched a few videos of Fela and I can hear the similarities of he and James Brown.
Hey Derek! I'm glad you enjoyed the musical and I am not surprised a man like yourself is a Fela fan. I have been use and enjoying your blogs and websites for a few years now.
all the best,
Stuart Bogie
Saxophone Soloist, "Fela!"
Thank you for the examples of what to do...very appropriate after the last posting...just do something...listen to this...read this...see this....the doing of these things is very helpful because it allows someone to bring their own context to the party instead of frozenly admiring yours..."find your own path" means you must be looking...not just imagining what that might be.
Thanks for the recommendation, Derek!
I discovered Fela at Berklee too #31 ^^^...don't we knew each other I was there from 1991-95.
I saw Fela & Egypt 80 play half a dozen times in London in the late 1980's. Just amazing. He was a great soul, a man who took risks musically, socially & politically, gaving up the privileges of his upbringing to live a life of honesty & shattering integrity. His was a life truly lived.
Fela Kuti was great! He and King Sunny Ade set the standard for Afro-Beat for 20 years. Johnny Klegg should be in there too. Great stuff. I did not see Fela, but saw Sunny Ade in LA in the 80's. Rockin' - I still use the culmination of that experience in One World Tribe.
Second thought...perhaps it might be useful if you asked people to state just one thing in which they are interested in finding out more information. In that way, they must make their own decision about what they are searching for before they can tell you. Just a thought.
Very nice. Only Thursday I was reflecting on King Sunny Ade, Johnny Clegg and Savuka, Fela, The Boyoyo Boys, and Babatunde Olatunji. The music they create(d) added to my own creativity and efforts. Thanks--JH
Fela Kuti, yes! I saw Him in France, it was memorable, very deep. A great Afrobeat master and more...Derek, thank Much
Greetings.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm also a big fan of Fela Kuti. I'm listening to "Water No Get No Enemy" right now. I love that track!
Very nice article Post. I had never heard of him before and feel honored to have been introduced to him. Great warmth in your writing.
Devin
Found whole version O.D.O.O.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPomMvRbbOQ
Good Summer festival music.
Yes one of the best concerts I saw in my life in London early 80s at his peak I'll never forget it, then early 2000 I saw his son with his band in Australia at the Blues Festival also amazing same intensity. He fought for the free voice of Nigeria Fela a great musician great performer and like you say it influenced everyone around him. Thank for the insight to Remain in Light still one of my favourite albums of all time and now I understand the connection with him, all things are connected aren't they, music is the language of the planet. thanks Virginia
Hello Derek:
Well I know you love the influence of other people's music because you helped 350,000 of us at cdbaby! You are an icon my friend!
I think I read deeper into the experience or perhaps another perspective of it and felt the open mindedness that can help all of us to appreciate all things and their value to our life experience here.
Having the ability to so keenly appreciate what came from the Heart of another creator is a powerful human tool or sense to have.
I too certainly love the primitive roots that all Art and Music came from. There are these wonderful threads waiting for us to fall in love with.
I think what really got me down deep about what you wrote was how well you described the experience. I felt like I was there too.
Perhaps that's what the music did to you. For the fleeting moment everytime you hear it you feel like you are right there with the performers experiencing what they are, and indeed you are.
Music and Art is a world of it's own in so many ways.
I love your ability to compute what is happening with the music and the vision you have to make the songs come to life and live in our world.
I too will buy these albums now as I'm hooked. Thank you.
Thank you also for reminding me in so many ways to keep an open mind about all of the new experiences that await us all if we open our minds with love and kindness.
I truely enjoy your communications so much.
When we started selling our music at cdbaby almost a decade ago the perky happy messages from CDBABY were a healing force for me in so many ways and affected the music we created.
We always need to feel good before we create even if it's feeling good about feeling bad. Makes for a great song.
I love the roots that drums can offer. The song you described covered all of the bases and hooked you for sure. Think of how many daydreams wonderful music provides! There is just not enough time in this world for us.
Keep on Rockin Derek.
You're incredible my friend.
John David Hart
Hey Man,
I didn't Know You Were A Resident Of Suburbia Chi-ILL., One More tHing We Have In Common As Well As "FELA KUTI" Long Time Student Of His Stylee Crucial Sound Maan !!!
Thanks for the suggestion Derek. I am a classical/new age pianist, and felt much the same way when I had the oportunity to play for Aaron Copland when I was 17.
I have been a huge Fela fan for as long - check out the mix tape K'Naan and J.Period did recently (it is the first of a series of 3 called "the messengers" - the other two are bob marley and bob dylan).
You can download it for free here:
http://www.zshare.net/download/6496575224aced15/
Africa invented rhythm in the same way that India invented instruments, in my opinion anyway. I can never get enough African Music. I always have had the suspicion that Spike Jones, in the 1930's, but mostly 40's was influenced by African music, only because of his very, very distinctive use of percussion. He used 'rubber duckies' 'whoopee cushions' and just about anything that nobody else was using at the time. I've always considered him my 'Fela', because, although he never got quite as big as Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey, or Duke Ellington, he seemed to clearly maintain a loyal cult following throughout his career.
I grow up listening to this style of music.
nice , It reminds me of an african percussion band from the 70 s, I can t remember there name, mosambeke maybe, any way beutiful music, When I was with roy brooks aboriginal percussion choir we did a 11/4 piece called healling tones, all wooden instuments, I guess in africa when someones sick thay play wooden instruments and there healled , It was amazing how good it made us feel
Thanks Derick
Thanks for the introduction. I'm not a dancer or a dance musician, but I really like this guy, and his voice sounds a little like Hendrix, another great musician and free thinker who died too young.
Hey Derek, I will surely check out his music ! Thanks for the introduction.
Arthur
A couple of months ago I did a Fela Kuti special on my weekly radio show. Might be a good introduction for anyone looking for somewhere to start.
)
http://www.bsidebeats.com/musicology-1-fela-kuti/
(p.s. the first song isn't Fela Kuti, it's just a good song to start a radio show with
Hi Derek,
I never knew that part of you. I have had an African music ensemble in KC for 5 years. You just can't compare that style to anything else, and it has motivated me in my music AND life in many many ways. I can't get as close to Fela as Manu Dibango or Angelique Kidjo perhaps because the politics of his lyrics were very localized. The Rumbas of West Africa and the pounding walking tempo music of South Africa (Boyoyo Boys) have been more influential to me, although, as an arranger, Fela certainly is important to study. King Sunny Ade's album "Aura" is a desert isle pick for sure. He's a Nigerian singer who has taken Hi-Life music to the world. Great to know you're a part player. I should have guessed with your west coast localle. There was a great balafon band from Seattle called Balafon. Have you ever caught them? I was lucky enough to be in San Fran for a Golden Gate park concert. Awewsome!
Peace,
Mark
Yesss
I saw his son play at the Montreal jazz festival! It was crazy, 25 musicians, 3 hours of free outside show.
I am going to see it for the second time. Members of my wife's dance company "Forces of Nature" make up most of the females in the play. I saw it before it hit bway and loved it.
Fela can never die!
Go to http://www.moredarkthanshark.org for everything about Brian Eno...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/theater/22fela.html?_r=1&ref=theater
Foundation roots music!!!!
Fela has a great story.
Thanks again>>
BLESS UP the Beat!!!
Being part of a unified musical force is a great experience.
Yea I had a listen and Fela sure had a way to put it together Thanks Derek for the extra music experience
Very nice Derek. I really do love what I saw.
Yes, Fela was an incredible revolutionary spirit. When I was 17 I worked for the French label Celluloid that put out his music along with Tura Kunda and Mano Dibango.
Unfortunately Fela was in jail for 2 years during my tenure there. He was constantly being raided by the police. They even raided his house when his wife jumped out the window and died.
Thankfully his son Femi carries on the family tradition and has an excellent band.
btw~ his middle name is Anikulapo which means 'Death in my pocket'.
Thanks for telling us about Fela Kuti.
Ihad heard of him, but never listened to him..I'll check his music out now
When I was in music school at the Atlanta Institute of Music, I fell completely in love with James Brown and his spirit of intense creativity..I bought his four cd box set, and learned the bass lines note for note. Went to see him three times. I pray that in Heaven, I get to hear him play with the angels..
PEACE,
Tedi May
Hi Derek!
I'd not heard of this fellow, but he was obviously a giant of a man in the music industry,and I loved your story.
A bunch of his stuff appears to be available on imeem as well. Listening to some now.. always good to listen to new stuff
Who was it that said "I don't play music, I invent it"?
Derek,
This maestro is not only a musician, he is a freedom fighter, a political activist to the core, the masses here in Nigeria are very proud of him. Am surprise to know how influential his music is outside the shores of Africa.
Here are some literal translation of his various appellations
Abami da -(the strange one) Anikulapo - (the that has death in his pocket, therefore he is not afraid to die.)
Alanini -(pain in the ass of bad politicians).
FELA WILL NEVER DIE!! i love that.
Thanks for the sport light! indeed something good can come out of NIGERIA.
I recorded a song by him about 20 years ago when I was with a reggae band called the Instigators. Great music
Absolutely!!
Fela and King Sunny Ade have a deep place in my heart.
Keith Kehrer
Kamakaze Music
not heard of him- but I'm familiar with junkanous from caribbean island sounds and I like that so I'll check him out- keep it comin- thanks- T Scott
His music is fantastic, and one of the best things about it is that it has CONTENT. He was fearless in his activism and critisisms, and showed how powerfull music can be in the absence of other freedoms. Just Like That - one of my faves. Femi is great to see live too, good to see the lineage continuing and evolving.
Its interesting to look at Parliament / Funkadelic along side Fela Kuti and see the ways that different cultures shaped these two ensambles/collectives, noticing the difference between Afro American and African while recognising the fundamental similarities of feel - large ensembles, groove based, impro etc. and lyrical content, and song that go on for 20 mins !
I've never been good at the verse br, chor, mid 8 shit - developing grooves and jams is where i live ..Fela is my neighbour.
RIGHT!! I am so happy that Fela's message is being heard! I went to High School in Nigeria an the 60's, played on Nigerian TV and clubs, was weaned on High Life and JuJu Music. I met Fela and Femi at the Shrine the year before he passed... I love his freedom inspiring, recklessly monotonous chanting and grooving...
TAKE THE MUSIC BACK!!!
DanB
Thanks for the information but I live in the city of Naples in Italy and America for us is still too far away ..... in every way.Big hugs and Kisses
Buon....................Pensiero
Never heard of him till now but,will check him out.
Fela is definitely a hero, in many ways. I played many of his songs and his style. Concerts are up to 6 hours long; amazing musicians, endless possibilities!
The development of "Afrobeat" music in Nigeria certainly parallels the *complete* urbanization of two indigenous Nigerian tribes. That urbanization affected the instruments they played, the music they played, in a way (I think) not found along the coast of the continent to the west of Nigeria where that complete urbanization did not take place. I recall there is an old PBS program about this, from many years ago.
Some day I'll tell you my story about Nigerian oil tankers and American No. 2 parboiled rice. Somewhat too involved to repeat here.
Thank you for sharing this Derek, having been a member of Felas Egypt 80 and his son Femi Kutis Postive force it is really great to see all the recognition and appreciation. If you have not had the time to check out my Cd Identity then do so, as I continue to fly that afrobeat flag from my base in London. http://cdbaby.com/cd/delesosimi
A real shame the nigerian government have not appreciated his impact world wide!
People may still hold him as being very controversial during his years as an inspirator and instigator but he has now with his innovators left an evergreen present of a lifetime contribution towards music from the Giant continent of Africa with love!Afro-Beat was born,is alive in all formats of genres and you can feel that too on my latest album "Sweet Sunshine" due release and launch on the 10th December 2009.Its available from Sterns Music both UK/USA.Plus digital downloads from www.cdbaby.com Thanks Derek for giviing me the platform to express my appreciation to a great musical Ambassador and dont you forget that you are fantastic too!!!!!!!
I ditto Karyn and Devin Theme.
Waiting On Love, Waiting On You,
Ms. Dimples
Good suggestion. I will see it in Dec.
"Africa '70 w/Ginger Baker" is an all time fave. Definitely a game changer.
Again a valuable history lesson and living and working in NYC.
I'm listening, COOL!
Thanks!
ME
Great post Derek! I saw Fela! the musical in early previews last year and was blown away. I've been to The Shrine since Abami Eda died, but the musical really does time-travel you back to what the scene must have been like.
And shameless plug here: the legacy of Fela via son Seun against the backdrop of today's Lagos is one of three stories in the new hour-long series "Sound Tracks" on PBS, premiering on Jan. 25, 2010 at 10pm. Check it out. The show is a lot of fun!
Derek:
Excellent blog! Fela and James Brown have been a huge influence of mine when I grew up in a Small village in Kenya. Hence the term FROFUNK - Afusion of afrobeat and funk. You can hear Fela influence on my Song Shelter and Thief in the house on my new album "Black President". Http://afrofunk.net
Much respect,
Sila
This is a great article. Music is very influential on most people's lives.
My husband is Nigerian, and he plays Fela all the time!
Amazing, James Brown thing was as well
Aleee
Yeah, I`ve heard some great stories about him from a bassist friend of mine who went to Africa on tour and met him - hung out and smoked pot with him (which Fela did every minute of the day apparently, when he wasn`t making music). Famous and infamous. Thanks for the heads up on the play - didn`t know about it, but will try to take my Japanese girlfriend when she visits during Xmas!
Hi, I wanted to share this website www.afrofunke.com, it might be of interest to some.
Thank you Derek for all your thoughts. Happy Thanksgiving, Sky.
Wow never heard of him before...that's why I'm an "eternal student!"
Cheers,
George
Thanks for passing that on Derek,I'll definitely check it out.
So Derek,
What little club was it that you saw Fela in? I live in Boston. Just curious......
Thanks for the info about Fela
Billy Carl Mancini
BIRD MANCINI
Wow. Thanks so much for turning me on to this guy. It's very natural, enjoyable music. I've never listened to Afrobeat before, but I love it. It's like "World Jazz", or "African Jazz". I love jazz, and I love world music, and this is a great blend. My favorite world bands are Tinariwen and Niyaz. They're worth checking out also!
Cool. I quite enjoy Wasis Diop.
http://www.myspace.com/wasisdiopmusic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_k3mTmel48
Great story. Fela Kuti was easily among the greatest musical geniuses of the 20th century. I think his music is absolutely majestic.
please check out my book on Fela Kuti called 'Fela Kalakuta: Notes' published in 2009 by the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Holland (ISBN No.978 90 6832 748 9) and available on amazon.com. I worked and stayed with Fela in Ghana and Nigeria several times in the 1970's - John Collins Music Department University of Ghana
Hey Derek,
I've never really had a good listen to Fela. I'm a bass player from the Caribbean, and I've always loved funk and world beats. Fela was so prolific I never knew where to start listening. Right know I'm listening to ITT, and loving it.The interlocking guitar parts are magic. Thanks for putting him back on my radar.
$5 mp3 download of Zombie available at Amazon.com. I've never heard any of his stuff, but I'm looking forward to checking it out now!
per my previous post:
http://www.amazon.com/Zombie/dp/B002MHTJJM/ref=pe_26200_13693070_as_img_6/
fela has been a favorite of mine since that remain in light album. i was hipped to the kuti influence by adrian belew who i had cornered at the bar following a performance by gaga (see the lone rhinoceros solo album) who were opening for the league of gentlemen (robert fripp's outrageous dance band) at Borgart's in Cincinnati. i asked him who was his current favorite influence and he told me how blown away everyone in the heads etc. was by fela. he told me a lot of other technical things that night in exchange for a shot and a couple of beers (among other '70s type things, lmao)--quite the cool and accomodating young man i must say. adrian had other things he could have been doing that evening, like being backstage so he could be asked to join crimson as their lead singer--which indeed happened, obviously, sometime later that evening.
When the heart strings are touched by love and inspiration, a deep joy emerges and causes us to smile.
i've recently been paying extra attention to the Eno/Byrne, "Remain in Light" and the power of the single chord. To see that mention the connection here opens the door to explore it even deeper. thanks..
yeh derek!
i miss fela too.i`m glad he liked my music enough to let me record some of my songs with him and his band egypt80.he played some great sax on it and even sang backing vocals on it with me.that cd is still available on line and from cdbaby.com thanks to you.
it was real nice meeting you in london the last time. all the best . toks
A good friend-Rujeko Dumbachena-is dancing in that Fela show...good stuff!
I felt ripped off! Ha! And now I play Zimbabwean music for a living...these small singular events that happen in our lives can have such a big affect.
Fela was my first 'African' Cassette. I bought "Go low" and got it home and put it on. There was one song per side of the cassette
That's cool to hear you played guitar in the afrobeat group. Listened to much Thomas Mapfumo?
I caught him (and his extraordinarily physical backup singers) at WOMADelaide this year and loved it.
Derek you hit the jackpot again.
Knew Fela when he was starting out and studying in London back in da dayze. A genius and legend.
So amazing all the peeps living comments..Afro beat lives on around the world.
PEACE.
Mataya
Amazing feet , what a steady progress in life, I am simply in awe looking at your progress.
Keep it up!
I bumped into Fela Kuti when a girl I was dating put it on one night a few years ago and I was stunned...brilliant. I really enjoy finding out who my favorite artists are/were influenced by and digging into that. Its lead me to some great places...early Kinks, Guided By Voices, Buddy Holly, John Coltrane, Talking Heads, Black Flag...and more importantly...new ideas.
Thanks Derek--for reminding me how much I love the "rhythm of the beat" and how visceral it all is. Your music is good!
I fell in love with the music of all of Africa around "91--Fela's music was so over the top-it stood head and shoulders above--as a conviction, political statement, a lifestyle , and a frenetic cosmic vibration--I am still mesmerized, and my soul flies when I hear this stuff---
I too learned of Fela from a Nigerian Taxi Driver. Love it!
Wow! This is a blessing Fela is remembered .i'm so blessed to have met him growing up in Ikeja at his shrine as a young n .i was born in nyc but my moms from Nigeria and when i was super young i was taken back home to c family.Fela was is Fam to me we called him Papa 70.Great article Derek thanks for shinning this light
thats music with substance,great music that heals the mind and soul I love it,blessed love