lentilenergy1

Fela Ransome-Kuti In addition to being a musician, Fela was a political activist and a Pan-Africanist. He was a proponent of African culture and was inspired by Black Power. He traveled to Ghana and came across new musical influences. He wrote songs that were meant to be political attacks against the Nigerian government and a world order that routinely exploited Africa. His music was radically revolutionary. Fela Ransome-Kuti was born in Abeokuta In the 1970s and 1980s, Fela Ransome-Kuti became known for his harsh style of music and shrewd political declarations. Many of his songs were direct criticisms of the Nigerian government and the military dictatorships that were in power during those years. He also criticized fellow Africans for supporting these dictatorships. Fela's rebellion against oppressive governments cost him dearly. He was arrested, beaten and incarcerated numerous times. He once called himself a “prisoner of the Kalakuta Republic” and founded his own political group, the Movement for the Advancement of the People (MOP). Fela's mother was Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti known as a well-known feminist leader and women's rights activist. She was a member of the Abeokuta Women's Union and worked as a teacher. She also assisted in organizing the first preschool classes in Abeokuta. She was a suffragist, and was active in the Nigerian independence movement. She was a close relative of the writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka. Ransome-Kuti was an avid advocate of Pan-Africanism and socialism. She advocated the preservation of traditional African practices and religions and was a strong opponent of European cultural imperialism. Ransome-Kuti was inspired by the Black Power movement and the works of Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver. She was also a part of the African Renaissance movement. The music of Fela was able, despite his opposition to the oppressive Nigerian Government and Western culture, to earn an international fan base. His music was a mixture of Afrobeats, jazz, and rock heavily influenced by American jazz clubs. He was a fierce opponent of racism. Fela's protests in Nigeria against the ruling party led to many arrests and beatings. This did not stop him from touring the United States and Europe. In 1984, he was beaten by the military, and was detained under dubious charges. International human rights groups intervened following the incident and the government was forced to step down. Kuti however, he continued to record and perform up until his death in 1998. He was buried at Kalakuta Cemetery, Abeokuta. The city is now home to the Fela Museum. He was a musician Fela, a passionate Pan-Africanist, believed in using music as a means of social protest. Utilizing his funk-driven Afrobeat style, he criticized the Nigerian government, while inspiring activists around the world. Fela was a Nigerian born in Abeokuta in 1938. He was the son of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, an anticolonialist and leader in the Nigerian women’s movement. His mother was also a doctor and anti-colonialist, as were his grandparents. Fela was taught to fight for the rights of the oppressed and this became his life's work. Fela began his career in musician in the year 1958, after the time he quit medical school. He wanted to follow his passion for music. He began playing highlife music, a popular genre that combines African rhythms and Western instruments with jazz. He formed his first band in London and was able to hone his abilities in the capital city of Europe. On his return to Nigeria he developed Afrobeat which combined the lyrics of agitprop with danceable rhythms. The new sound caught on in Nigeria and across the continent, and became one of the most influential forms of African music. In the 1970s, Fela's political activism placed him in direct conflict with Nigerian military regimes. The regime feared his music's ability to motivate people to rise up against their oppressors and overturn the status quo. Fela, despite repeated attempts to suppress his music, continued to produce a ferocious and danceable music to the end of his life. He died in 1997 of complications caused by AIDS. When Fela was alive, lines of people were always out the door to catch him perform at his nightclub in Lagos known as Afrika Shrine. He also set up an enclave, the Kalakuta Republic, which functioned as his recording studio, club, and spiritual space. The commune also served as a venue for political speeches. Fela critiqued the Nigerian government as well as world leaders such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and P.W. Botha, South African Prime Minister. Botha. His legacy continues to live in spite of his death due complications related to AIDS. His Afrobeat sound has influenced many artists like Beyonce and Wyclef Jean. Jay Z also cites him as an influence. He was a mysterious man who was a lover of music, fun, and women. But his true legacy is his tireless efforts to fight for the marginalized. He was a Pan-Africanist The renowned Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a Pan-Africanist, bringing his unique musical style to the cause of the people. A master at blending elements from African culture with American jazz and funk, he also used his music to criticize the oppressive Nigerian government. Despite frequent beatings and arrests but he continued to stand up for and defend his beliefs. Fela was born into the Ransome-Kuti clan, which included anti-colonialists as well as artists. His mother Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a educator and feminist as was his father, Israel Oludotun Ransome Kuti was instrumental in forming the teachers' union. He grew singing and listening to the traditional tunes and rhythms of highlife – a mix of soul songs, jazz standards and Ghanaian hymns. This musical heritage shaped the worldview of Fela who was determined to bring Africa to the world, and the world to Africa. In fela law firm , Fela released Zombie, one of his songs that compared policemen to a mindless horde who would follow any order, and then savagely attack the public. The song enraged the military authorities who surrounded the house of Fela and sacked his compound. They beat everyone, including Fela's children and women. His mother was removed from a window and died the following year from injuries she sustained during the attack. The war fueled Fela's anti-government activism. He established a commune and named it the Kalakuta Republic, which doubled as recording studio. He also formed an political party and separated from the Nigerian state, and his songs were more influenced by social issues. In 1979, he took his mother's coffin to the headquarters of the junta ruling in Lagos and was then beaten. Fela was a fearless and uncompromising warrior who refused to accept the status established order. He knew he was fighting an ineffective and unjust power, but he never gave up. He was the embodiment the spirit of determination and in this manner, he was truly hero. He was a man who was able to overcome all odds and change the course of history. His legacy continues to live on today. He passed away in 1997. The death of Fela was a sour blow to his numerous fans around the globe. Many thousands of people attended his funeral. He was aged 58 when he died. His family members said the cause of death was heart failure as a result of AIDS. Fela was an important person in the creation of Afrobeat, a style of music that combines traditional Yoruba rhythms with jazz and American funk. His political activism resulted in arrests and beatings by Nigerian police however he refused to be silenced. He preached Africanism and encouraged others to resist corruption in the Nigerian military government. Fela was an influential figure in the Black Power movement in the United States, which inspired him to continue fighting for Africa. In his later years, Fela suffered from skin lesions and dramatic weight loss. These symptoms were an obvious sign that he had AIDS. He refused treatment and denied he had AIDS. Then it was over. Fela Kuti's legacy will be carried on for generations to come. Kuti's music is a powerful statement of political opinion that challenges the status-quo. He was a revolutionary who sought to change the way that Africans were treated. He made use of his music as a means of social protest and fought against colonialism. His music had a profound effect on the lives of many Africans and he'll be remembered for it. Throughout his career, Fela worked with various producers to create his distinct sound. Some of these producers included EMI producer Jeff Jarratt, British dub master Dennis Bovell and keyboardist Wally Badarou. His music was a blend of traditional African beats, American funk, and jazz, which gave him a global following. He was controversial in the world of music and often criticized Western cultural practices. Fela was well-known for his controversial music and lifestyle. He smoked openly marijuana and had many relationships with women. Despite his outrageous life, he was a staunch activist and was a fighter for the rights of the poor in Nigeria. His music was influential in many Africans in their lives and helped them to embrace their culture.