Written by-Andrea Franklin
"Music is the weapon " A quote that was stated by the late, great legend FELA KUTI, the father of AFRO-BEAT. FELA, (during his time) was label as one of music most controversial musicians, he fought for the rights of the people, the people that were oppressed by a government that did not work in their favor. In his fight FELA was faced with harassment and prison by the government in Nigeria. His vision through his music was very profound, he believe that corruption came in many forms and through many people in higher places stealing rights and equality from a mass of people, he told through his music and speaking events the power of reaching the people using music as the weapon in which he did, changing a generation of people fighting through the struggles living in Nigeria, which in terms effected the world.
THE MUSIC
FELA was influence greatly by American jazz. He took American jazz and blend it with a range of African rythms creating a style and new genre of music he called AFRO-BEAT. He gain great success in his homeland and internationally doing what he loved and staying true to his theory of using music as the weapon.
FELA played serval instruments but he's known for his skills and notes using the sax. He performed with a full live band using serval different instruments, he also included female dancers whom he called his Queens some of which he was even married to. FELA and his band performed at the night club he opened in Lagos, Nigeria called THE SHRINE were he performed freely and interacted with the crowd.
Some of my favorite songs by FELA are Water No Get Enemy, Zombie and AUTHORITY STEALING to name a few. Most of FELA songs are very lengthy but you will surely enjoy what you're hearing while getting a lesson of what him and his people had to face.
THE LEGACY
FELA KUTI made his exit from this world August 2,1997 due to a heart condition and complications from A.I.D.S
He left behind a message of social awareness and how injustice effects us all. He left the music to use as a tool better yet as a weapon to change what we don't like from people that feel they have all power in their hands. We are the people that have the power! FELA was brought back to life in 2009 when Rapper JAY-Z and Actors WILL and JADA PINKETT SMITH teamed up with a few others to bring FELA to broadway to tell his story and music to a new generation in a musical that is awesome and is touring around the world.
Thank you FELA for your contribution in the world and in music, your influence in music can still be heard today.
For more info on the life and Legacy of FELA KUTI check out the links below (the documentary below is in different parts, I linked part 1 for you to begin learning about FELA) Enjoy!
http://www.felaonbroadway.com
THE MUSIC
FELA was influence greatly by American jazz. He took American jazz and blend it with a range of African rythms creating a style and new genre of music he called AFRO-BEAT. He gain great success in his homeland and internationally doing what he loved and staying true to his theory of using music as the weapon.
FELA played serval instruments but he's known for his skills and notes using the sax. He performed with a full live band using serval different instruments, he also included female dancers whom he called his Queens some of which he was even married to. FELA and his band performed at the night club he opened in Lagos, Nigeria called THE SHRINE were he performed freely and interacted with the crowd.
Some of my favorite songs by FELA are Water No Get Enemy, Zombie and AUTHORITY STEALING to name a few. Most of FELA songs are very lengthy but you will surely enjoy what you're hearing while getting a lesson of what him and his people had to face.
THE LEGACY
FELA KUTI made his exit from this world August 2,1997 due to a heart condition and complications from A.I.D.S
He left behind a message of social awareness and how injustice effects us all. He left the music to use as a tool better yet as a weapon to change what we don't like from people that feel they have all power in their hands. We are the people that have the power! FELA was brought back to life in 2009 when Rapper JAY-Z and Actors WILL and JADA PINKETT SMITH teamed up with a few others to bring FELA to broadway to tell his story and music to a new generation in a musical that is awesome and is touring around the world.
Thank you FELA for your contribution in the world and in music, your influence in music can still be heard today.
For more info on the life and Legacy of FELA KUTI check out the links below (the documentary below is in different parts, I linked part 1 for you to begin learning about FELA) Enjoy!
http://www.felaonbroadway.com