10 interestin facts about Fela Anikulapo Kuti you never knew

Yesterday was Fela Anikulapo’s 77th post-humus birthday and we thought to share and celebrate the legend with some interesting facts about him. The felabration concert is presently going on and its free to attend at the New Afrika Shrine. Fela Kuti, also known as Fela Anikulapo Kuti or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and political maverick.

More..

5 Reasons you should not have sex before marriage.. Guys, 7 areas a girl who truly loves you looks at 15 celebs with artificial boobs (Before and after pictures) The wealth and expensive lifestyle of Tiwa Savage – See how she spends her millions (With Pictur es) Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He lived from Oct. 15, 1938, to Aug. 2, 1997. His political consciousness inspired him to change what he called his “slave name” Ransome and adopted the middle name “Anikulapo,” meaning “to have control over death,” in the late 1960s.

1. In the 1960s, Kuti pioneered and popularized the Afrobeat genre, which is a combination of funk, jazz, salsa, calypso and traditional Nigerian music. Once he had recorded a song, he never played it live again. He had reportedly been offered several thousands to perform his old hits, which he refused. His rebellious song lyrics established him as a political dissident. Afrobeat was associated with making political, social and cultural statements about greed and corruption.

2. He was influenced by the teachings of American human rights activist Malcolm X. Kuti began to understand the effects white oppression and colonialism had on Africa. He also realized the importance of Pan-Africanism, unity of African nations and revolution. Kuti fell in love with the growing Black Power movement happening in the United States in the 1960s. He was introduced to the Black Panthers while on tour in America in 1969.

3. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was an activist in the anti-colonial movement. She influenced her son’s political activism. In 1977, Fela Kuti released the album Zombie. It was a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers by using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military and the way, he believed, the soldiers blindly followed orders. In response, the military attacked him and threw his mother out the window of their home.

4. In 1979, he formed his own political party – MOP (Movement of the People). He also ran for president of Nigeria twice.

5. In 2008, an off-Broadway production of Kuti’s life titled Fela! was produced. It was inspired by Carlos Moore’s 1982 book Fela, Fela! This Bitch of a Life.

6. On Nov. 22, 2009, Fela! began a run on Broadway at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City. Jim Lewis helped co-write the play (along with director/choreographer Bill T. Jones), and obtained producer backing from rapper Jay-Z and actor, rapper Will Smith, among others. The Broadway production received 11 2010 Tony Award nominations and won Best Choreography, Best Costume Design of a Musical and Best Sound Design of a Musical.

7. In 1978, Kuti married 27 women in a single wedding ceremony. He would eventually divorce them all.

8. In the documentary Finding Fela, he explained the decision: “I wanted it to be meaningful … to have a meaningful life. Tradition expects me to marry 27 women.” He was briefly listed in the Guinness book of records for the most number of women married at one ceremony- 27, in 1978.

9. A million people marched with Fela’s Coffin on its final journey to burial in his house. More than have ever witnessed any state event in Nigeria.

10. He was given a brand new Mercedes Benz 280 Limo by his Record company, which he reputedly used regularly in loading up filthy firewood/charcoal used in cooking to feed the masses in his self-styled Republic.

CLICK HERE to join our BBM Channel for faster updates

TOP POSTS YESTERDAY 10 types of kisses guys love most.. 8 Nigerian celebrities who did odd jobs before fame – This will shock you! (With Pictures) 13 celeb transformation looks that shocked the world (With Pics) No Bra Day: 22 celebrities who stepped out without wearing bra (With Pictures) Forbes releases top 10 richest African musicians for 2015 – Number 2 will shock you! (+Pics) 10 Nigerian male celebrities who are notorious womanizers (With Pictures) Reasons why girls cheat so easily on their guy – The real truth! Top 5 Nigerian celebrities with the hottest daughters (With Pictures) Top Nigerian celebrities who gave birth to beautiful children in 2015 (Photos) Top 10 sexiest women in Nigerian music industry – See who’s number! (With Pictures) For over 10 years now, Desmond Elliot still angry with Ramsey Noah – See what happened! The 5 most troublesome Nigerian celebrities – See who #1 is (With Pics) 10 Shocking facts about Colombian drug Lord Pablo Escobar (With Pictures) 10 celebrities who hate their parents – This will shock you! (With Pictures) The 12 highest paid WWE wrestlers in 2015 – See who’s number 1! (With Pictures)

10 interesting facts about Fela Anikulapo Kuti you never knew

READALSO:

Discussion about this post

RECENT UPDATES

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Navigate Site

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password