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Rich Medina talks about
his passion for Fela Kuti's afrobeat, his Jump'n'Funk
parties and more.
Just click on the following link and
read the interview on
CLUBBITY.COM
the safe clubculture
site
No one loves Fela like Rich
Medina. The 34-year-old Philadelphia DJ is almost single-handedly responsible
for aurally educating a new generation of Philly party people on Fela’s music.
Possibly Africa’s most politically outspoken, fearless musician of all time,
Nigerian saxophonist and composer Fela Anikulapo Kuti invented Afrobeat by
wrapping traditional Nigerian poly-rhythms around James Brown-style funk. Then,
he filled the mixture with lyrics that protested the African colonial mentality
and its resulting chaotic political and social diseases, like widespread
poverty, militarism and skin bleaching. The result is the musical juju punch
that, even after 30 years, has got people all over the globe under an
ass-shaking spell that frees both their hips and
minds.