This video and song are fantastic. Watching old footage of Fela Kuti is full of similar love, joy, defiance, and infectious vibe. I find it a powerful thing that art can threaten governments to the point where they want to suppress, silence, or erase the art and artists.
It's incredible. I reckon you'll have seen it before Michael... I bet you're in the 14m! One of the things I love about Afrobeat is the way so many musical styles and influences come together to create something new and irresistible to music lovers worldwide. The groove drives the reach, the reach drives the message. No wonder insecure governments have tried to suppress it... just too damned effective!
That post is fascinating, Michael. Fela was certainly a brilliant and powerful musician, albeit something of a conflicted individual, as you rightly point out. Thanks for sharing.
This video and song are fantastic. Watching old footage of Fela Kuti is full of similar love, joy, defiance, and infectious vibe. I find it a powerful thing that art can threaten governments to the point where they want to suppress, silence, or erase the art and artists.
It's incredible. I reckon you'll have seen it before Michael... I bet you're in the 14m! One of the things I love about Afrobeat is the way so many musical styles and influences come together to create something new and irresistible to music lovers worldwide. The groove drives the reach, the reach drives the message. No wonder insecure governments have tried to suppress it... just too damned effective!
I have been obsessing over African music for a while now. I just picked up a couple killer '70s Nigerian and Mali records over the weekend.
On a side note: I did write about Fela and when art becomes dangerous & revolutionary:
https://michaelfell.substack.com/p/sorrow-tears-and-blood
That post is fascinating, Michael. Fela was certainly a brilliant and powerful musician, albeit something of a conflicted individual, as you rightly point out. Thanks for sharing.