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Fela KutiFela is a man with contradictions. That's why he's so intriguing. People who love him are able to accept his flaws.His songs typically last 20 minutes or more, and are sung in a dense, almost unintelligible Pidgin English. His music is heavily influenced by Christian hymns and jazz, classical music Yoruba chant, and horn-and-guitar heavy highlife.He was a musicianFela Kuti embodied the idea that music is a tool for change. He utilized his music to call for changes in the political and social spheres and his influence is evident in the world of even today. Afrobeat is a form of music that blends African and Western influences. Its roots are in West-African music and funk. However, it has evolved into a brand new genre.His political activism was ferocious and unflinching. He used his music to protest government corruption and human rights abuses. Songs such as "Zombie" and "Coffin for the Head of State" were daring criticisms of the Nigerian regime. He also referred to Kalakuta as a platform to connect with like-minded individuals and to promote political activism.The production includes a massive portrait of his late mother Funmilayo ransome-Kuti. She was a prominent feminist and activist. Shantel Cribbs portrays her and she does a fantastic job of conveying her importance in Fela's life. The play also focuses on her political involvement. Despite her deteriorating condition, she refused to be tested for AIDS. Instead fela lawyers opted for traditional treatments.He was a singerFela Ransome-Kuti was a complex man who employed his music as a tool for political change. He is known for creating afrobeat - a fusion of dirty funk with traditional African rhythms. He was a fierce critic of Nigeria's governmental and religious leaders.His mother was a suffragist who was anti-colonial So it's not unusual that he is a fan for political commentaries and social commentary. His parents believed that he would eventually become a doctor, but he had other ideas.While he initially sounded in a more apolitical highlife style, a trip to America changed his outlook forever. The music he composed was greatly affected by his exposure to Black Power movements and the leadership like Eldridge Clever and Malcolm X. He developed a philosophy of Pan-Africanism, which would inform and guide his later work.He was a songwriterFela encountered Black Power activists such as Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X during his time in the United States. The experience inspired him to create an organization called the Movement of the People, and to write songs that reflected his ideas on political activism and black consciousness. His philosophy was expressed publicly through yabis - a form public speaking he called 'freedom expression'. He also began to enforce an uncompromising code of ethics for his band, such as refusing to receive medications from doctors trained in the West.After his return to Nigeria Fela began building his own club, the Shrine in Ikeja. The police and military officials were every day. His Mosholashi-Idi Oro hangers were able to repopulate the area surrounding the club with drugs of all kinds particularly "bana" and "yamuna" (heroin). Fela was a steadfast person regardless of this. His music is a testimony to his determination to challenge authority and ensuring that the desires of the masses are manifested in official goals. It is a remarkable legacy that will last for generations to come.He was a poetIn his music, Fela used light-hearted sarcasm to discuss political and economic issues in Nigeria. He also poked fun at his audience, the government, and even himself. In these shows, he would refer to himself as "the big dick in the little pond." These jokes were not viewed lightly by the authorities and he suffered repeated arrests and imprisonments, as well as beatings at the hands of the authorities. He eventually adopted the name Anikulapo which translates to "he is carrying death in his bag."In 1977, Fela recorded a song called "Zombie," which compared soldiers to mindless zombies that obeyed orders without hesitation. This irritated the military who seized the Kalakuta Republic, burning it down and beating its inhabitants. During the raid, Fela’s mother was thrown from her second-floor apartment by the window.Fela developed Afrobeat in the years that followed the nation's independence. Afrobeat is a music genre that blends jazz with native African rhythm. His songs criticized European cultural imperialism, and he favored traditional African religions and culture. He also criticized fellow Africans who betrayed their nation's traditions. He emphasized the importance of human rights and freedom.He was an artist of hip-hop.A trumpeter, saxophonist, composer, and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was heavily influenced by jazz, rock, and roll, as well as traditional African music, chants, and music. After a trip to the United States, Fela met Sandra Smith. She was an activist in the Black Power Movement. Her ideas have influenced his work.Upon his return to Nigeria, Fela began using his music as a political tool. He criticized the government of his native country, and argued against Western sensibilities that impacted African culture. He also wrote about social inequities and human rights violations and was frequently detained for his criticism of the military.Fela also openly advocated the use of marijuana, referred to as "igbo" in Africa. He also held "yabis" (public discussions) at Afrika Shrine, where he would mock government officials and spread his views on the freedom of expression as well as the beauty of women's bodies. Fela also had an entourage of young women who danced at his shows and acted as vocal backups for him.He was a dancerFela was a master of musical fusion. He incorporated elements from jazz, beat music and highlife to create his own distinctive style. He was a renowned African musician and vocal critic of colonial ruling.Despite being tortured and arrested by the Nigerian military junta and witnessing his mother murdered, Fela refused to leave the country. He died of complications due to AIDS in 1997.Fela was an activist in the political arena who was a critic of the oppressive Nigerian government and embraced the principles of Pan Africanism. His albums, such as 1973's Gentleman focused on the oppression of both the government and colonial parties. He also pushed for black power and criticized Christianity and Islam as non-African influenced religions that were used to divide the people of Africa. Shuffering and Smiling is the title track from an album from 1978. It describes crowded public buses filled with working poor people, "shuffering and smiling". Fela was a fierce enemy of religious hypocrisy. Fela's dancers were also a great complement to his music. They were sensual, vibrant, and regal. Their contributions were as significant as Fela's words.He was a political activistFela Kuti used music as a tool to challenge unjust authorities. He took his knowledge of American funk and jazz toward African modes and rhythms, creating a sound that is braced for a fight. Most of his songs begin with slow-burning instrumentals. He layers little notes, riffs and other elements until they explode with urgency.In contrast to many artists who were hesitant to expose their political beliefs, Fela was fearless and uncompromising. He stood up for his beliefs even when it was risky to do so. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a feminist who was the leader of the Nigerian Women's Movement. His father was a protestant minister and the president of the teachers' union.He also founded Kalakuta Republic - a recording studio and commune that was an emblem of the resistance. The government raided Kalakuta's Republic, destroying property and severely injured Fela. He refused to give up however and continued to protest against the government. He died of complications from AIDS in 1997. He was succeeded by his son, Femi, who continues to carry on his music and political legacy.He was a fatherMusic is often seen by many as a political act. Musicians use lyrics to call for a change. Some of the most powerful music demonstrations aren't supported by words. Fela Kuti is one of the artists mentioned above and his music rings today. He was the pioneer of Afrobeat music, which blends traditional African rhythms and harmony with hip-hop and jazz that was inspired by artists like James Brown.Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was Fela's activist mother. She was a unionist who fought colonialism. She helped form the Abeokuta Women's Union and fought against gender-discriminatory taxation laws. She also was a Marxist and believed that Nigeria should serve its entire population.Fela's son Seun is continuing his father's legacy, through the band Egypt 80 that's touring the world this year. The band's music combines the sounds and politics of Fela's time with a passionate critique of the same power structures that continue to exist in the present. The new album, Black Times, will be released in March. Thousands of fans attended the funeral and paid respects in Tafawa Balewa Square. The crowd was so huge, that police had to block the entrance.