The story is 95% tragedy and sorrow. Such a great man being forced to suffer so much while he was a beacon of light to the world, improving the place at every turn. This is a sign of a world still bad, humanity in its infancy, still struggling with the simple issues of right and wrong. Still unable to understand that criminals from the top are the most dangerous since they have too many resources. If the public could turn out and send the security apparatus hiding, they cumulatively have the ability to overthrow the regime, which is essential.
In Gulag Archipelago Solzhenitsyn bemoans that before he was deported to the Stalin work camps that when they came to get him, if only he (and everyone else) had grabbed a knife or ax handle and taken out a few of the KGB goons, that soon they would be suffering serious manpower problems and would have to have stopped it.
The lesson of Fela Kuti is that Nigerians need to destroy their cruel dictatorship.
The even better lesson is that we need to protect our future Fela Kuti's.
Thank you for writing this. Fela was a giant and the fear and rage he engendered by the Nigerian government remarkable. More people should know his music and his story
Some fascinating stories here that I hadn't come across despite being a fan for decades - thank you! Incidentally, here are some of the offending lyrics from Zombie, which is used as a metaphor for the Nigerian military (taken from genius.com).
Zombie o, zombie (Zombie o, zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (Zombie o, zombie)
Zombie no go go, unless you tell am to go (Zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell am to stop (Zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell am to turn (Zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell am to think (Zombie)
Thanks so much for publishing this great piece recounting Fela's importance, music, and political impact of his life. I have to believe that people found comfort and understanding in his music. I'd add that his amazing drummer, the late Tony Allen was also an incredible backbone of most of Fela's recordings and should be celebrated as well for sticking by Fela from what I can imagine was a tough road. Such a wealth of great recordings is left to us all, and I hope this reminds us that music can move both minds and bodies.
We need so many more people like this. This is not my favorite music. Fela and I might never have been inclined to become friends, if we had met. But I respect him. I respect him far more than any politician or political party.
Very timely write up about Fela given the current political situation Nigeria's currently facing (Nigerian here).
In Nigeria, we throw around a joke about how if Fela was alive to witness the current state of things, the first two hours of whatever he releases will be solely instruments with his wailing in the background, no lyrics, just because of how terrible things have become.
He's a symbol of freedom against oppression and a well revered personality.
Remember the first cousin mentioned, the nobel laurate, he's in cahoots with the current President (they both fought, in the 90's, against the same dictator as Fela) but said President is now an oppressor himself.
Crippling the economy, free speech and full-on state capture of the legislative and judiciary arm of the government.
Nigeria has many great rebels like Fela and Ken Saro-Wiwa. Saro-Wiwa was part of the Ogoni Nine that fought back against the exploitation of Nigeria by Shell plc (large energy corporation).
The Ogoni Solidarity movement was an important international human rights campaign of the 1990s.
"Children who straddle the spirit realm and real world. They often die as infants, but their spirits get reborn—so they never develop a strong attachment to the comforts of life"--fascinating! What a read, Prof!! One man and his music caused so much fear and control because he didn't adhere to the insane rules and whims of an oppressive regime. He was scapegoated. He believed in a higher force. How his own lifeforce must have shined so brightly in their eyes that they were blinded.
Thank you so much for covering Fela Kuti. My husband introduced me to his music when we started dating, and I still love it. He was a true rebel. I noticed you didn't talk about his many wives, or almost cult like atmosphere at his compound. Still, I enjoyed how his personal history underlines the authoritarianism in Nigeria, and one man's resistance through music...such great music.
one of my faves since discovering the sound on a spliff-pungent roof in Kathmandu...(!) -- & how about his collaborations with AEC genius trumpeter Lester Bowie too?!!
"But, above all, I celebrate its odds-beating testimony to the power of song—even when a single musician must face down an entire regime." Fela IS an enigmatic revolutionary.
I wasn't familiar with Fela's music, so I did what I always do, and listened to his Essentials on Apple Music. I have been a fan of Afrobeat based on my early years in a Reggae band. I am really enjoying familiarizing myself with his music. As always, thank you for your writing. It has become something I look forward to arriving in my mailbox.
The story is 95% tragedy and sorrow. Such a great man being forced to suffer so much while he was a beacon of light to the world, improving the place at every turn. This is a sign of a world still bad, humanity in its infancy, still struggling with the simple issues of right and wrong. Still unable to understand that criminals from the top are the most dangerous since they have too many resources. If the public could turn out and send the security apparatus hiding, they cumulatively have the ability to overthrow the regime, which is essential.
In Gulag Archipelago Solzhenitsyn bemoans that before he was deported to the Stalin work camps that when they came to get him, if only he (and everyone else) had grabbed a knife or ax handle and taken out a few of the KGB goons, that soon they would be suffering serious manpower problems and would have to have stopped it.
The lesson of Fela Kuti is that Nigerians need to destroy their cruel dictatorship.
The even better lesson is that we need to protect our future Fela Kuti's.
Thank you for writing this. Fela was a giant and the fear and rage he engendered by the Nigerian government remarkable. More people should know his music and his story
"Water no get enemy" - a song to sustain you. I hope you all enjoy the next eleven minutes:
https://youtu.be/_Dk8gKA0FGU?si=VKpFrCLePAppZRFQ
Some fascinating stories here that I hadn't come across despite being a fan for decades - thank you! Incidentally, here are some of the offending lyrics from Zombie, which is used as a metaphor for the Nigerian military (taken from genius.com).
Zombie o, zombie (Zombie o, zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (Zombie o, zombie)
Zombie no go go, unless you tell am to go (Zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell am to stop (Zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell am to turn (Zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell am to think (Zombie)
Thank you so much for this piece, I was at the brink of tears. It’s so nice to see that the world still appreciates Fela. Thank you so much Ted.
Thanks so much for publishing this great piece recounting Fela's importance, music, and political impact of his life. I have to believe that people found comfort and understanding in his music. I'd add that his amazing drummer, the late Tony Allen was also an incredible backbone of most of Fela's recordings and should be celebrated as well for sticking by Fela from what I can imagine was a tough road. Such a wealth of great recordings is left to us all, and I hope this reminds us that music can move both minds and bodies.
Most Substacks bring in guest writers who cover a wide range of topics. Not Ted Gioia. When you land here, you never know what you’re gonna get…
We need so many more people like this. This is not my favorite music. Fela and I might never have been inclined to become friends, if we had met. But I respect him. I respect him far more than any politician or political party.
Very timely write up about Fela given the current political situation Nigeria's currently facing (Nigerian here).
In Nigeria, we throw around a joke about how if Fela was alive to witness the current state of things, the first two hours of whatever he releases will be solely instruments with his wailing in the background, no lyrics, just because of how terrible things have become.
He's a symbol of freedom against oppression and a well revered personality.
What's going on currently?
Strap on.
Remember the first cousin mentioned, the nobel laurate, he's in cahoots with the current President (they both fought, in the 90's, against the same dictator as Fela) but said President is now an oppressor himself.
Crippling the economy, free speech and full-on state capture of the legislative and judiciary arm of the government.
Damn. No one is incorruptible I suppose... that's disappointing.
I'm currently seeing someone who lives in Nigeria and she's always reminding me our US political system could always be worse.
Nigeria has many great rebels like Fela and Ken Saro-Wiwa. Saro-Wiwa was part of the Ogoni Nine that fought back against the exploitation of Nigeria by Shell plc (large energy corporation).
The Ogoni Solidarity movement was an important international human rights campaign of the 1990s.
Thanks for telling the story of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his life long struggle against inequality and tyranny. Thank you.
"Children who straddle the spirit realm and real world. They often die as infants, but their spirits get reborn—so they never develop a strong attachment to the comforts of life"--fascinating! What a read, Prof!! One man and his music caused so much fear and control because he didn't adhere to the insane rules and whims of an oppressive regime. He was scapegoated. He believed in a higher force. How his own lifeforce must have shined so brightly in their eyes that they were blinded.
Thank you so much for covering Fela Kuti. My husband introduced me to his music when we started dating, and I still love it. He was a true rebel. I noticed you didn't talk about his many wives, or almost cult like atmosphere at his compound. Still, I enjoyed how his personal history underlines the authoritarianism in Nigeria, and one man's resistance through music...such great music.
one of my faves since discovering the sound on a spliff-pungent roof in Kathmandu...(!) -- & how about his collaborations with AEC genius trumpeter Lester Bowie too?!!
& his 27 wives too, whoo!
"But, above all, I celebrate its odds-beating testimony to the power of song—even when a single musician must face down an entire regime." Fela IS an enigmatic revolutionary.
I wasn't familiar with Fela's music, so I did what I always do, and listened to his Essentials on Apple Music. I have been a fan of Afrobeat based on my early years in a Reggae band. I am really enjoying familiarizing myself with his music. As always, thank you for your writing. It has become something I look forward to arriving in my mailbox.