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.
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
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.
