₦airaland Forum

Birthday: Fela Kuti Turns 87 Today!

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 1978 army raid that injured Kuti and his mother, the latter fatally. 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.

Death

On 3 August 1997, Kuti's brother Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, already a prominent AIDS activist and former Minister of Health, announced that Kuti had died on the previous day from heart failure due to complications with AIDS. Kuti had been an AIDS denialist, and his widow maintained that he did not die of the disease.

Personal life

Kuti married 27 women simultaneously in 1978. His youngest son Seun took the role of leading Kuti's former band Egypt 80. As of 2022, the band is still active, releasing music under the name Seun Kuti & Egypt 80. His other children include musicians Femi and Yeni Kuti.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti


Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Egypt 80, Live at the Zenith, Paris in 1984

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7OB9W0cAzs?si=-isFk19JXt_wvmHj

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDh_TsHKfJU?si=mdljjH_pupH1U5Up

VIDEO: Did Fela perform on stage with his pants?

The late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was accused by one of his fans during a singing competition as having performed on stage with his underpants.

During an audition on the popular reality Nigerian Idols in 2008, a contestant who rendered Fela’s songs appeared in his pants to perform in front of the judges.

Dede Mabiaku, a protege of the Afrobeat legend was part of Fela’s daily life and his band Egypt 80 for more than 10 years. The popular belief is that Fela performed on stage in his underpants, but Dede, who was on the Nigerian Idols panel, clarifies the issue in this video.

https://www.thecable.ng/video-fela-perform-stage-pants/

😂😂😂😂😂😂 where is Seun Kuti?! LMAO lol😂

Rest on legend
I wonder what people like you would have to say about today Nigeria

HIV aids won the battle against Fela the raw mekwe king

The abami eda himself. Long gone but cannot be forgotten. Not a good moral compass, but a strong fighter. Continue to rest in peace

Legends Nigeria needs now !

Rest well fella ❤️

The revolutionary activist will live forever, peace, love and respect to the family of the revolutionary King.

Blizzy300:
Rest on legend
I wonder what people like you would have to say in today Nigeria

People like him only have things to say?! Just take a look at him and be sincere to yourself, would you pray to have such.............lol. 😂😂😂. I no wan talk my mind make dem no ban me.

I use to think what people love in fela, till i really settled down to listen to his songs some few weeks ago, that is when i realized fela was the originator of some street slangs that present nigeria musicians use in their musics.

I fell inlove with fela because of his contributing efforts towards seeing that government is transparent. Even then, many people did not associated with fela because they feared the government. Fela really walked alone

Nigerians betrayed him.

the best ever abami for a reason

the original no 1

MOP VIVA AFRICA




if you have never been to fela shrine i advise you go and have a nice time

Gbongboji oyibo teachi nonsense... Why dem no tell am say e make mistaki... Say dis yoke no be democracy.... Democracy democracy ,crazydemo....demonstration of craze, crazy demonstration.... Rich man dey laugh, poor man dey cry....

One of d oldies I listen to, including Orlando owoh and few others
RIP to all of them....

Abami eda himself. Whenever I jam this legend songs, it's always hits different

RIp abamieda

We love you

We miss you

How such a man became popular and famous is still the issue today.

That is what bad government can do.

A bad government can make a nobody popular.

Nwaikpe:
How such a man became popular and famous is still the issue today.

That is what bad government can do.

A bad government can make a nobody popular.

The likes of Charlie boy lol. 🤣🤣🤣🤣. I know that the Op deliberately used those pictures of Fela. Charlie boy's nude pictures full every where o.

Continue to rest on baba fela
Legend for Afrobeat, all musicians and small activist we have now they are all cashivist.

Wherever you are sir, continue to rest in Paradise. I'll forever love your song, Beast of No Nation for all my life. Even till today, it resonate everything thag is wrong in Nigeria today.

Abami eda himself. Continue to rest in peace

Yemmysworld91:
The abami eda himself. Long gone but cannot be forgotten. Not a good moral compass, but a strong fighter. Continue to rest in peace

Yes oo!
He was never a Pastor or clergyman but his songs is coming to pass right now in Nigeria. I believed he saw visions back then in those days.

"Animal dey wear Agbada".....
"Immam na gbaladun, pope na enjoyment".....
"Bunch of thieves rulling Nigeria "....
"Obasanjo and Abiola, International thief thief"......
E plenty!

So many things he revealed about Nigeria.

Rest on Gallant, street, table shaker, most real, Bogey etc......ABAMI EDA!

Pootle:
the best ever abami for a reason

the original no 1

MOP VIVA AFRICA




if you have never been to fela shrine i advise you go and have a nice time

was there yesterday and still going today

Nwaikpe:
How such a man became popular and famous is still the issue today.

That is what bad government can do.

A bad government can make a nobody popular.

Sorry who are you referring to?

Robnectar:
was there yesterday and still going today

you mouthed brada, we on same wave length

Softmirror:
The likes of Charlie boy lol. 🤣🤣🤣🤣. I know that the Op deliberately used those pictures of Fela. Charlie boy's nude pictures full every where o.

Not deliberate, the op showed you the real Fela without pretenses

joseph1832:
Wherever you are sir, continue to rest in Paradise. I'll forever love your song, Beast of No Nation for all my life. Even till today, it resonate everything thag is wrong in Nigeria today.

Lolz! Funny a thing, on Sunday when I was lonely it was Fela's songs I jam thru out that morning. Beast of no nation is really a beast of a song

The founder of afrobeat.
Respect sir.
The greatest Nigerian ever.

Kalulu44:
Sorry who are you referring to?

The man who dances naked

Softmirror:
The likes of Charlie boy lol. 🤣🤣🤣🤣. I know that the Op deliberately used those pictures of Fela. Charlie boy's nude pictures full every where o.

He also.

Nothing special about them.

I can't stop listening to the guy

His stomach will churn if he were to return to life and find out that Nigeria is in a worse state that it was during his time and that people are still suffering and smiling 😁.

Legend.

Zombie oooo Zombie
Zombie oooo Zombie


Happy posthumous birthday

This was a freedom fighter who till his last days remained resolute in fighting for rights if the downtrodden and disenfranchised.

He even was against NIGERIA during the BIAFRAN war and called out sycophants like Wole Soyinka (Noble Fraud ) and other so called activists who supported Awolowos betrayal.

He will be remembered by real people not teleguided supporters of drug dealers.

Abami e da!!

Rest on Legend!!