DMB> Is anyone out there familiar with an artist named Fela Kuti. I've heard
DMB> a tune of his this weekend. I can't remember the name. It sounds like
DMB> he may be an African artist because of his political lyrics. It had a
DMB> nice beat and great horn playing. It was a very long tune. I could not
DMB> keep still listening to it.
Yes Fela Anikulapo (not sure about the spelling here) Kuti is (was, dead last
year) a Nigerian musician very politically involved. As a musician he played
tenor sax and created this so specific afro beat based on Yorumba - African
Voodoo - rhythms, his tunes are long pieces with a very hypnotic and
repetitive often complex rhythm on which he sing very hard political lyrics
on or improvise with his sax. His political activities was against the
government of his country which is (was? don't know what on now!) of
dictatorial type, he, Fela, created a little enclave into the country (don't
remember the name) where hundred people: his wives, family, musicians, some
artists and so on lived in a semi-autarky, playing music, smoking grass,
acting politically, living they lives ... He had too his own musical club
where his group played often. He was very involved for fight for black people
and for human rights in his country. Of course he was prosecuted for his
activities, his mother was killed in an attack on his home and he was often
put in jail - and tortured - mainly for drug pretexts. There is a good book
about this great man and musician but I do not have references in English
sorry. Enjoy this man, he is somebody to discover!
--- heddy -