Today marks the fifteenth death anniversary of late Afro-beat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti,
popularly known as Fela Kuti, is one of the greatest musicians that emerged
from Africa, following his courage and ability to stand up against government
“maladministration” in his time.
The Afro-beat legend passed away on the 2nd of August, 1997 of HIV/AIDS.
Fela formed the Kalakuta Republic and also set up a nightclub in the
Empire Hotel, named the Afro-Spot and later re-named Afrika Shrine,
where he performed regularly.
His genre of music; Afrobeat, is a complex fusion of Jazz,
Ghanaian/Nigerian High-life, and traditional West African chants and
rhythms.
He mostly sang in Pidgin English but he also performed a few songs in his native Yoruba language and English language.
Fela was a candid supporter of human rights, and many of
his songs are direct attacks against dictatorships, specifically the
militaristic governments of Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s. He was also a
social commentator, and he criticized his fellow Africans (especially the upper
class) for betraying traditional African culture.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti will always be remembered for his
songs.
