If he were alive today he would have turned 73 a few days ago. We're talking, of course, about the pioneer of Afrobeat, Fela Anukulapo Kuti, one of those rare artists whose significance goes so far beyond their art that we call them icons.
Revolutionary, independent thinker, social commentator, politically-engaged to a degree unmatched by any Nigerian musician before or since.
As with other icons, it's taken a few years since his death for the extent of his significance to become apparent to the international mainstream, but now there surely can't be many who will watch the video above and ask "Fela who?"
Funny thing is that Fela didn't particularly want to be remembered. According to The Huffington Post, when asked by author Carlos Moore if he wanted to leave an imprint on the world, he said:
No. Not at all. You know what I want? I want the world to change. I don't want to be remembered. I just want to do my part and leave. If remembering is part of the world's thing, then that's their problem. I'll do my part. I have to do my part. And everyone has to do his. Not for what they're going to remember you for, but for what you believe in as a man. A human being should be like that.
Well, sorry, man, but you can't help but be remembered. You had the courage and independence of thought to call it as you saw it, and nothing changes in this world without both these qualities.
The video, with anecdotes from a few of his avid admirer's and peers, is Siji's tribute to one of the icons featured in Elders' Corner, which we wrote about a couple of weeks ago. Only 12 days to go to reach the target on this crowd-funded film, so go pledge your support.
One of the things that still baffles, fascinates and titillates people, especially people in the west, is Fela's relationship with women, particularly with respect to polygamy. It's touched upon in the video, and while Fela was no feminist, it's worth checking out the article Fela and His Wives: The Import of a Postcolonial Masculinity by Derek Stanovsky to get a bit on context on this particular issue.
http://content.omroep.nl/ghettoradio/musicblog/fecko_flow_global_afrobeat_remix_ft_talonted.mp3 Flow Global Afrobeat Remix - Fecko the Emcee
Also in the spirit of Felabration is this FREE-TO-DOWNLOAD Afrobeat remix of Nigerian rapper Fecko the Emcee's Flow Global, featuring New Jersey-bred rapper TALoNTED and produced, by Teck-Zilla.
Enjoy, but if you haven't listened to Fela in a while, blow the dust off those LPs or CDs and listen again to what made the dude special.
