Fela Anikulapo Kuti
FELA KUTI
More than a Nigerian composer and multi-instrumentalist, Fela Kuti was a musical genius that revolutionized the art of African music for a lifetime. One of Africa’s most controversial musicians, he continued to fight for the rights of the common African man in spite of being harassed, vilified, and even thrown in jail by the government of Nigeria. Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Abeokuta, Nigeria on October 15, 1938, his family played an influential role on his political and national movements. Both of his parents were of Yoruban descent. Fela’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was a leading figure in the nationalist struggle of Nigerian people and anti-colonial movement. His father, Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was a Protestant minister and school principal and also the first president of the Nigerian union of teachers (3). He was the middle child of two brothers, Olikoye and Beko, who went on to become prestigious medical doctors in their fields. Some say that this was somewhat of the motive behind Kuti’s first intentions to be a doctor. Fela was inspired by different genres from Jazz and Funk to Salsa and Calypso with Juju. From these different styles and realms of music he constructed and engineered a unique style of his own that would forever change the history of African music, which was named Afrobeat.He died on August 2, 1997. Fela was and is one of the most powerful and influential African musical engineers that changed the face of Nigeria, musically, politically, and re-established the importance of differential music.
As a young boy, Fela watched his older brother grow and become fascinated with the medical nature of things. This seemingly showed as the major hobby for Kuti, but he also developed a love for music. In 1954, Fela joined a group by the name of the Cool Cats as a singer. The Cool Cats were a band that practiced in the highlife movement. Highlife was the rage of the development of the Lagos music
More than a Nigerian composer and multi-instrumentalist, Fela Kuti was a musical genius that revolutionized the art of African music for a lifetime. One of Africa’s most controversial musicians, he continued to fight for the rights of the common African man in spite of being harassed, vilified, and even thrown in jail by the government of Nigeria. Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Abeokuta, Nigeria on October 15, 1938, his family played an influential role on his political and national movements. Both of his parents were of Yoruban descent. Fela’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was a leading figure in the nationalist struggle of Nigerian people and anti-colonial movement. His father, Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was a Protestant minister and school principal and also the first president of the Nigerian union of teachers (3). He was the middle child of two brothers, Olikoye and Beko, who went on to become prestigious medical doctors in their fields. Some say that this was somewhat of the motive behind Kuti’s first intentions to be a doctor. Fela was inspired by different genres from Jazz and Funk to Salsa and Calypso with Juju. From these different styles and realms of music he constructed and engineered a unique style of his own that would forever change the history of African music, which was named Afrobeat.He died on August 2, 1997. Fela was and is one of the most powerful and influential African musical engineers that changed the face of Nigeria, musically, politically, and re-established the importance of differential music.
As a young boy, Fela watched his older brother grow and become fascinated with the medical nature of things. This seemingly showed as the major hobby for Kuti, but he also developed a love for music. In 1954, Fela joined a group by the name of the Cool Cats as a singer. The Cool Cats were a band that practiced in the highlife movement. Highlife was the rage of the development of the Lagos music
Cited: 1) "Fela Anikulapo Kuti." African Music Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://africanmusic.org/artists/felakuti.html>. 2) "Fela Kuti Biography - The Life and Music of Fela Kuti - Afrobeat Pioneer Fela Kuti." World Music - Information, History, and Reviews of World Music. Megan Romer. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://worldmusic.about.com/od/bandsartistsaz/p/FelaKuti.htm>. 3) "Fela Kuti." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti>. 4) Moore, Carlos. "Bio." Fela Kuti, Nigerian Music, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Fela Ransome Kuti, Fela Kuti Music. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. <http://www.fela.net/bio/>. 5) Veal, Michael E. Fela: the Life & times of an African Musical Icon. Philadelphia, PA: Temple UP, 2000. Print.