Sure, here are 10 things about the Great Fela Kuti:
- Fela Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti) was a Nigerian musician, composer, and bandleader.
- He was born on October 15, 1938, in Abeokuta, Nigeria, and died on August 2, 1997, in Lagos, Nigeria.
- Fela Kuti is known as the pioneer of the music genre known as Afrobeat, which combines elements of West African highlife music, jazz, and funk.
- He was a political activist and used his music as a tool to criticize the Nigerian government and call for social change.
- He was a vocal critic of the military dictatorship that ruled Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s and was arrested and beaten several times for his political views.
- Fela Kuti was the son of a prominent Nigerian feminist and nationalist, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and a Christian minister and educator, Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti.
- He was a prolific musician, recording over 50 albums during his career, including “Zombie,” “Expensive Shit,” and “Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense.”
- Fela Kuti was known for his flamboyant lifestyle and eccentric personality, often wearing bright-colored clothing and smoking marijuana on stage.
- He established a commune called the Kalakuta Republic in Lagos, which served as a home and creative space for himself and his band, as well as a venue for political gatherings and social events.
- Fela Kuti’s music and legacy continue to inspire musicians and activists around the world, and he is recognized as one of the most influential musicians in African and world music history.
