Fela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), or just Fela, was a Nigerian musician and composer who was very important in a genre called afrobeat. He played the saxophone, guitar, drums, keyboards and trumpet, and he sang. He was also a human rights activist.[1] The American singer James Brown said that Kuti was one of the originators (starters) of the funk genre.
Fela Kuti | |
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 Fela Kuti in 1970 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti |
| Born | 15 October 1938 Abeokuta, Nigeria |
| Origin | Abeokuta, Nigeria |
| Died | 2 August 1997 (aged 58) Lagos, Nigeria |
| Genres | Afrobeat |
| Occupation(s) | musician, activist |
| Instruments | Saxophone Vocals Keyboards Trumpet Guitar Drums |
| Years active | 1958–1997 |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts |
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Kuti died in 1997 of Kaposi's sarcoma, an illness caused by AIDS.[2] In 2008 a musical production called Fela! was created, about Kuti's life and career.
Fela Kuti Media
The Ransome-Kuti family c. 1940: Reverend Israel and Chief Funmilayo seated, Dolu at back, Fela in the foreground and baby Beko, with Olikoye at right
James Brown Live Hamburg 1973 1702730029
The New Afrika Shrine, Lagos
The Afrobeat band Antibalas in 2005
Fela Kuti statue at Ikeja, Lagos
References
- ↑ Seattle Weekly: Barack Obama and the Original First Black President, archived from the original on 2009-07-17, retrieved 2009-07-17
- ↑ Farber, Jim (2009-11-21), "Fela Kuti: as Broadway musical 'Fela!' set to open, everything you need to know of Afrobeat legend", New York Daily News, archived from the original on 2009-11-27, retrieved 2009-12-27