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Fela’s 70th Posthumous Birthday Celebration Begins

Tribune
17th Oct. 2008

Family, associates and lovers of the afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, on Tuesday night gathered at the “African Shrine,” Ikeja, to begin his 70th posthumous birthday celebration. The organisers said the six-day programme was to highlight the life and music of the late “Abami Eda.”

Addressing newsmen, Fela’s eldest daughter, Yeni Kuti, said the programme, tagged: “Felabration,” would hold between October 14 and end on October 19 and would include a never-been-seen documentary.” Yeni said programmes lined up included ladies toasting baba at 70, while some popular highlife, juju and fuji musicians would take the band stand during six-day celebration.

She said contemporary music, hip hop and R&B artistes would also participate in the programme of events. According to her, 35 foreign artistes from Europe and the United States, who had signified their interest to participate in “Felabration,” were expected to start arriving in the country from October 14.

Yeni disclosed that a street carnival and road show would be part of the programme and would involve artistes and lovers of Fela’s music, “holding a procession from the New African Shrine through some major streets in Ikeja.”

Fela, born Olufela Ransome-Kuti on October 15, 1938, the third of four children to Reverend Oludotun Ransome-Kuti and Olufumilayo, died on August 2, 1997. He was renowned for his type of music which was a mix of highlife and jazz.

The Federal Government recently, in honour of the music icon, named a street in Abuja after him.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/17102008/news/news9.html

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Nigerians Celebrate Late Afrobeat Legend Fela Kuti

Thousands of Afrobeat enthusiasts danced through the night in a cavernous warehouse to celebrate what would have been the 70th birthday of late Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti. The late Saturday night concert marked the climax of Nigeria's annual "Felabration," which pays homage to Kuti, the founder of Afrobeat music and a staunch political activist.

Musicians coming to honor him included Red Hot Chilli Peppers' bassist Flea, Gorillaz singer-songwriter Damon Albarn and Magic Number's vocalist Romeo Stodart, who played an energetic set fronted by Senegalese hip-hop artists Baaba Maal and Daara J and accompanied by a seven piece brass band.

But it took the pulsating drum beats of Kuti's son Femi to bring the 3,000-strong crowd to life in the dingy venue. As marijuana smoke hung thick in the hot air, Femi and his scantily clad dancers writhed and grooved through a hypnotic set that included one of his father's best known tracks, "Water get no enemy." The enraptured audience danced and cheered wildly.

Fela Kuti created the Afrobeat genre in the 1960s by combining African sounds with a fusion of jazz, R&B, rock and soul music. He was an activist as well as a musician, and his satirical lyrics often decried the poverty and mistreatment of his fellow Nigerians. Many of his songs antagonized Nigeria's government, which in turn frequently harassed, beat and jailed him, his family and supporters. Fela Kuti died in 1997, at age 58.

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May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm