10 Misconceptions Your Boss Holds About Fela

Fela Ransome-Kuti Fela, a musician and political activist who was also a pan-Africanist. He was a supporter of African culture, and was influenced Black Power. He travelled to Ghana and came across new musical influences. He composed songs that were intended to be political statements against the Nigerian government, as well as a global order that abused Africa regularly. His music was uncompromisingly revolutionary. Fela Ransome-Kuti was born in Abeokuta In the 1970s and 1980s, Fela Ransome-Kuti became known for his harsh style of music and shrewd political declarations. Many of his songs were direct criticisms of the Nigerian government and the military dictatorships which took over the country during those years. He also criticized fellow Africans for supporting these dictatorships. Fela's rebellion against oppressive governments cost him dearly. He was beaten, detained and jailed multiple times. In fact, he once declared himself “a prisoner of the Kalakuta Republic.” He also established his own political party known as the Movement for the Advancement of the People or MOP. Fela's mother was Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti who was a globally recognized feminist leader and rights for women activist. She was a teacher as well as was a member of the Abeokuta Women's Union. She also helped organize some of the first preschool classes in Abeokuta. She was a suffragist, and was active in the Nigerian independence movement. She was a close kin of writer and Nobel laureate Wole SOYINKA. Ransome-Kuti was an avid supporter of Pan-Africanism and socialism. She was a strong supporter of socialism and Pan-Africanism. Ransome-Kuti was inspired by the Black Power movement and the works of Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver. She was a part of the African Renaissance Movement. The music of Fela was able, even in the face of opposition to the oppressive Nigerian Government and Western culture, to garner an international following. His music was a blend of Afrobeats, jazz, and rock, heavily influenced by American jazz clubs. He was a fierce opponent of racism. Fela's rebellion against the Nigerian government led to numerous arrests and beatings. It did not stop him from touring the United States and Europe. In 1984, he again was beaten by the military, and was detained under a variety of suspect charges. Human rights organizations from around the world intervened after the incident, and the government was forced to step down. Kuti however, continued to record and perform until his death in 1998. He was buried at the Kalakuta Cemetery in Abeokuta. The city is now home to the Fela Museum. He was a musician A passionate Pan-Africanist Fela was committed to using his music as a means of social protest. With his funk-driven Afrobeat style, he criticised the Nigerian government, while inspiring activists across the globe. Fela was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was the son of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti an anticolonialist who was a staunch leader of the Nigerian women's movement. His mother was also a doctor and anti-colonialist, as were his grandparents. Fela was raised to fight for the rights of oppressed people and this became his life's work. Fela began a career in music in 1958, after the time he quit medical school. He wanted to pursue his passion for music. He began by playing highlife music, which is a popular genre that combines African rhythms and Western instruments with jazz. He started his first band in London and was able to develop his abilities in the capital city of Europe. When he returned to Nigeria, he developed Afrobeat that combines the lyrics of agitprop with danceable beats. The new sound caught on in Nigeria and across the continent, and became one of the most influential styles of African music. Fela's political activism in the 1970s brought him into direct conflict with Nigerian regimes. The regime was wary of his music's ability to motivate people to take on their oppressors and change the status of the game. Despite repeated attempts to disarm him, Fela continued to make powerful and incredibly danceable music until the end of his life. He died from complications arising from AIDS in 1997. The nightclub of Fela in Lagos known as Afrika Shrine was always packed with people. He also constructed the Kalakuta republic which was used as his recording studio and club. The commune also was an arena for political speeches. Fela was critical of the Nigerian government as well as world leaders such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and P.W. Botha, South African Prime Minister. Botha. Despite his death from AIDS-related complications, his legacy lives on. His Afrobeat sound has influenced many artists including Beyonce and Wyclef Jean. Jay Z also credits his influence. He was an enigmatic figure who was a lover of music women, women and having a good time, but his true legacy lies in his relentless efforts to stand up for the marginalized. He was a Pan-Africanist The renowned Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a Pan-Africanist, bringing his unique musical style to the cause of the people. A master of blending elements of African culture with American jazz and funk, he also used his music to criticize the oppressive Nigerian government. He continued to speak up and stand up for his beliefs even though he was often detained and beaten. Fela was born into the prestigious Ransome-Kuti clan, which included artists and anti-colonialists. His mother Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist and educator as was his father, Israel Oludotun Ransome Kuti, helped to form the teachers' union. He was a singer and listened to the traditional melodies and rhythms of highlife – a mix of soul songs, jazz standards, and Ghanaian hymns. This musical legacy shaped the worldview of Fela who was determined to bring Africa to the world and world to Africa. In 1977, Fela released Zombie, a song that likened the police to a rogue horde who would follow any order, and brutalize the populace. The song angered the military authorities who surrounded the home of Fela and took over his compound. They beat everyone, including Fela's women and children. His mother was removed from a window and passed away the following year from injuries she sustained during the attack. The invasion fueled Fela’s anti-government activism. He created a commune and named it the Kalakuta Republic, which doubled as recording studio. He also created an opposition party and split from the Nigerian state, and his songs were more focused on social issues. In 1979, he carried his mother's coffin to the junta's headquarters in Lagos and was later beaten for his actions. Fela was a warrior who was fearless and never gave in to the status established order. He knew that he was fighting an unjust power and inefficient, yet he did not give up. He was the epitomization of an indefatigable spirit and in this manner, the man was truly hero. He was a man who stood up to the odds and changed the course history. His legacy continues to live even today. He died in 1997 The death of Fela was a devastating loss to his fans across the world. He was 58 years old when he passed away and his funeral was attended by millions of people. The family of the deceased said that the cause of death was heart failure due to AIDS. Fela was a pivotal person in the creation of Afrobeat, a style of music that blended traditional Yoruba rhythms with jazz and American funk. His political activism led to him being detained and beaten by Nigerian police. He refused to be silenced. He preached Africanism and encouraged others to stand up against corruption within the Nigerian military government. Fela was also a major influencer on the Black Power movement in the United States, which inspired him to fight for Africa. In his later years, Fela suffered from skin swelling and weight loss that was dramatic. fela lawyers indicated that he was suffering from AIDS. He was an AIDS disbeliever and refused treatment, but eventually succumbed to the disease. Fela Kuti's legacy will live on for generations to come. Kuti's music is a strong political statement that challenges the status of the art. He was a revolutionist who aimed to change the way Africans were treated. He used music to fight against colonialism and as a means of social protest. His music had a profound influence on the lives of a lot of Africans, and he'll be remembered for that. Fela collaborated with many producers throughout his career to develop his distinctive sound. Some of these producers included EMI producer Jeff Jarratt, British dub master Dennis Bovell and keyboardist Wally Badarou. His music was a mix of traditional African beats, American funk, and jazz, gaining him a global following. He was a controversial personality in the music industry and was often critical of Western culture. Fela is well-known for his controversial music and his life style. He smoked marijuana openly and had numerous relationships with women. Despite his raunchy life, he was a staunch activist and struggled for the rights of the poor in Nigeria. His music was influential in many Africans' lives and encouraged them to embrace their culture.