Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a legendary Nigerian musician, activist, and cultural revolutionary whose life and art challenged power and reshaped African music. As the pioneer of Afrobeat, he fused traditional African rhythms with jazz and funk, using his sound as a weapon against oppression, corruption, and injustice. More than an entertainer, Fela became a fearless voice for the oppressed and a symbol of resistance whose influence still echoes across Africa and the world.
1. Full name: Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; he later dropped Ransome and adopted “Anikulapo”, meaning “he who carries death in his pouch.”
2. Born: October 15, 1938, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
3. Died: August 2, 1997, in Lagos.
4. Pioneer of Afrobeat: Fela created Afrobeat by blending jazz, highlife, funk, African rhythms, and politically charged lyrics.
5. Political activist: His music openly criticised military rule, corruption, police brutality, and neo-colonialism in Nigeria and Africa.
6. Kalakuta Republic: Fela founded a self-declared commune in Lagos, which he said was independent of Nigerian authority.
7. Repeated arrests: He was arrested over 200 times during his lifetime, often on trumped-up charges.
8. 1977 military raid: Soldiers burned Kalakuta Republic, assaulted residents, and threw his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, from a window—an attack that led to her death months later.
9. Political ambition: He formed a political party called Movement of the People (MOP) and attempted to run for president.
10. Unique performance style: Songs were often long (10–20 minutes), featuring call-and-response vocals, heavy percussion, and extended horn sections.
11. Language choice: He sang mainly in Pidgin English to reach ordinary Africans beyond ethnic or class barriers.
12. Multiple marriages: In 1978, he married 27 women in one day, many of whom were dancers in his band.
13. Shrine legacy: His performance venue, the Afrika Shrine, became a centre for music, resistance, and counterculture.
14. Global influence: Fela influenced artists worldwide, including Beyoncé, Questlove, Erykah Badu, Burna Boy, and Kendrick Lamar.
15. Family legacy: His children, especially Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti, continue his Afrobeat and activist tradition.
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