Amen! Fela has been making music since the mid-60's (maybe even earlier)
in Africa, some/most of which has made it around the world, a lot of which
probably hasn't. He is undoubtedly the funkiest man in Africa that I've
heard and defiantly stands apart from the majority of happy "Afro-Pop"
music. I'd say he's one of the funkiest composers and composers in the
WORLD, and one of the most under-rated in the funk/soul realm. His
outspoken-ness against his own government and world-wide oppression also
gives The Last Poets and Public Enemy a run for the money.
Selected Fela albums I'd recommend:
* Original Sufferhead (seconded from previous post)
* He Miss Road
* Zombie
* Shakara
* Black President
* Fela with Ginger Baker and the Africa 70 - *MIND-BOGGLING!*
* Expensive Shit
I've probably forgotten a couple also. Truthfully, I don't think you could
go wrong with any of his stuff. He's also got a couple of live videos out.
They've got two of them at the Tower near my apartment, so that probably
means they can be tracked down pretty easily.
His son Femi Kuti released a record on Tabu/Motown last year and toured
with Africa Fete, so that might be easier to track down. It's not quite as
good as actual Fela stuff, but Femi used to (still does??) lead his
father's band in his absence and tracks like "Wonder, Wonder" recall Fela's
spirit perfectly.
Enjoy!
Brian C.
<beatbop@tiac.net>