Fela Kuti



Prolific and innovative...




Multi instrumentalist, musician and songwriter was remembered all over the world with various shows and multiple accolades showered on the man every year on October 15, his birth date.

The Fela story has also acquired so much myth and legend that sometimes it's hard to begin to separate the truth from the fiction.

What is certain today is that the cultural icon has been built into an industry of epic proportions. 

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's live sets at the Afrika Shrine were very colourful to see, the music was exquisite and the atmosphere was always electric.

A popular song at the Shrine was the track below; "Monkey Banana." It's epic Fela, who could be hilariously funny during the yabis sessions at the Shrine. 

When it came to jokes, Fela could dish them out with relish and could also receive them in a good natured manner.






Celebrating this musical icon, please enjoy the music Monkey Banana and Sense Wiseness from the Fela Kuti YouTube channel. The music captures the Fela and Afrika 70 sound to a tee... humour and all.

There is a quote I remember whenever a Fela matter comes up. It's this:

"Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can't be approached or withdrawn from, benefited or harmed, honoured or brought into disgrace. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures." ~ Lao Tzu

This post in part honours those fans from back in the day. Those who defied convention and risked ostracising from the society back then. The musicians, the fans, even the hangers on and all the others who suffered for this art form, who today seem to be marginalised, taken for granted and are totally forgotten about. Those who witnessed both the best and the worst side of humanity during that period, it's enough to know that you were there.

Even if nobody else recognised or validates your sacrifice, your love and honesty for the music that the rest of the society was ready to throw away. Yours and Fela's tenacity paid off. For that, I salute you all...








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