The Africa you won't see on TV - Post #9; the Icons - Fela Kuti

Fela Anikulapo Kuti is one of Africa’s most iconic singers. Simply known as Fela and professionally as Fela Kuti, this extremely talented individual was born in 1938. We could go on and on about this man. He was a Panafricanist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer, musician, political maverick, and a human activist among other titles. When he was at the height of his success, he was often referred to as one of Africa’s most charismatic and challenging music performers. How often do we come across such an icon?

I was honored to visit the Fela Kuti museum in Lagos the other day. As an appreciator of African heritage and music in general, it was one of the most amazing experiences ever.

Fela Kuti was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. His family was an upper middle class one; the father was a Reverend Father whereas his mother was one of Nigeria’s most vocal feminist activist during the anticolonial movement. Fela Kuti is also first cousin to the first African to win the Nobel Peace prize for Literature, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.

He attended the Abeokuta Grammar School and later studied music at the Trinity College of Music in the UK. He was meant to study medicine but that changed once he got there. The trumpet was his preferred instrument, but he was known to use almost any other one could think of.

In 1967, he temporarily moved to Ghana to try find a new musical direction. During this time, his music was known as afrobeat. His life (and music) took a complete turn after he and his band moved to Los Angeles for around 10 months. Fela met Sandra Smith (currently Sandra Izsadore) who then introduced him to Black Power movement. Their purpose is straightforward, but they can be linked directly and indirectly to lots of protests and movements on black empowerment in the United States.

The story goes something like this: Sandra invited them to perform in one of the Black Power movement’s gatherings. Fela Kuti decides to give them a dose of jazz. Backstage, Sandra is all flared up. “We could teach you how to play jazz,” she says. We want you to sing about OUR continent and whatever is happening there.

Fela had just found his purpose. From there he was on fire –sometimes ever literally!

A lot of information has been left out when we are taught history in our schools. Fela and other people were a monumental force where creation of modern-day Nigeria (and Africa in general) is concerned.

His was a life of dedication, struggle, hope, success, and resilience. I will write more about him in the next post. One thing that’s for sure, however, is that this is a man who cannot be summarized in a few posts.

If anyone wants to get caught up on some of my latest post from the Africa you won't see on TV series, here we go:

Extreme Sports - White Water Rafting
Unlimited Beaches - Beach #2
Hell's Kitchen

This is part of a series from my Nigerian visit. Stay tuned for more posts? Would also appreciate an upvote, comment, and/or resteem. E se o!