Fela Kuti

Nigerian musician and activist (1938–1997)

AI overview

Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician and activist who lived from 1938 to 1997 and became known for blending traditional African music with jazz and funk to create a distinctive sound called Afrobeat. He is remembered as an important cultural figure who used his music to challenge political authority and advocate for social change in Nigeria.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Person · Open Library

Born: 1938-10-15
Died: 1997-08-02
Works: 3

Top works

Confusion
Mr. Follow follow
Shuffering and shmiling

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Film & TV

Acting · Abeokuta, British Nigeria

Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì (Yoruba: [fɛ̄lá āníkúlák͡pó kútì]; born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre that combines West African music with American funk and jazz. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most…

Known for

Happy in the Gap — Self (archive footage)2020
Fela Kuti: Father of Afrobeat — Self (archive footage)2020
Africa Rising — Self - Musician (archive footage)2019
My Friend Fela — Self (archive footage)2019
Finding Fela — Self (archive footage)2014
Fela In Concert — Self2001

Article

Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì ( Yoruba: [fɛ̄lá āníkúlák͡pó kútì] born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre that combines West African music with American funk and jazz. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers". AllMusic described him as "a musical and sociopolitical voice" of international significance.

Kuti was the son of Nigerian women's rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. After early experiences abroad, he and his band Africa '70 (featuring drummer and musical director Tony Allen) shot to stardom in Nigeria during the 1970s, during which Kuti was an outspoken critic and target of Nigeria's military juntas. In 1970, he founded the Kalakuta Republic commune, which declared itself independent from military rule. The commune was destroyed in a 1977 army raid that injured Kuti and killed his mother. He was jailed by the government of Muhammadu Buhari in 1984, but released after 20 months. Kuti continued to record and perform through the 1980s and 1990s. Since his death in 1997, reissues and compilations of his music have been overseen by his son, Femi Kuti.