We remember Fela Anikulapo Kuti. ‘The African King’

Wikipedia : This day (August 2, 1997), inLagos, Nigeria, died Fela Anikulapo Kuti,a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician, composer and pioneer of Afrobeat music.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti : Throughout his life, Fela contended that AfroBeat was a modern form of danceable, African classical music with an urgent message for the planet’s denizens. Created out of a cross-breeding of Funk, Jazz, Salsa and Calypso with Juju, Highlife and African percussive patterns, it was to him a political weapon

African Music Encyclopedia: Fela Anikulapo Kuti : When the people returned to power in 1979, Kuti began his own political party – MOP (Movement of the People). The military returned to power in 1983 and within the year Kuti was sentenced to five years in prison on a spurious currency smuggling charge. He was released in 1986 after yet another change of governmen

@last.fm : His band was notable for featuring two baritone saxophones, whereas most groups using this instrument only use one. This is a common technique in African and African-influenced musical styles, and can be seen in funk and hip-hop. Some elements often present in Fela’s music are the call-and-response within the chorus and figurative but simple lyrics.

@Discogs : He formed his first group Koola Lobitos in 1963. The large jazz, funk, and afrobeat collective underwent many changes in the following decades but the style remained the same thanks to Fela’s vision and other key members such as drummer Tony Allen.

Photo : Bernard Matussiere / FAK Official website

FROM THIS ARTIST

AMAZON . ITUNES . CD UNIVERSE