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Tag: AFROBEAT

  • 5 contemporary Nigerian songs inspired by Fela’s Afrobeat

    5 contemporary Nigerian songs inspired by Fela’s Afrobeat

    It is impossible to consistently listen to contemporary Nigerian music and not perceive elements of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat rooted in it.

    The Afrobeat maestro who passed on the 2nd of August 1997, was the son of a quiet Anglican priest and an activist mother who was supposed to be fine doctor like his elder brother ,Olikoye or his younger brother Beko.

    Fela the black sheep of the family, danced to his own drumbeats, refusing to conform to already established music genres .

    In no particular order TheNewsGuru takes a look at 5 contemporary Nigerian songs inspired by Fela’s Afrobeat.

     

    1. Wizkid- Jaiye Jaiye

    The self-proclaimed Star Boy, Wizkid who has been flying the flag of Afrobeat features Femi Kuti , son of the Afrobeat legend in this groovy Afrobeat tune. The song was released in 2013 and produced by Sarz

     

    1. Tiwa Savage featuring Don Jazzy- African Waist

      African Waist is an upbeat Afrobeat song produced by Don Jazzy.The song glorifies the waist of African women and its efficacy. From usage of horns and groovy African beats, the song commands attention whenever it is being played.

       

    3.Tekno- Rara

    Tekno’s socially conscious song, Rara also falls into the zone of contemporary African songs that needs falls into the Afrobeat genre. The song is produced by Selebobo

     

     

    4.Seyi Shay-Yolo

    The soulful RnB singer, Seyi Shay soars in this Afrobeat song titled Yolo. The song is produced by DJ Coublon

     

    1. Skales featuring Burna Boy- Temper

      Baseline Records artiste, Skales collaborates with Burna Boy in this slow paced Afrobeat song. Amazingly, young people find it difficult to leave the dance-floor, whenever this song is being played. The song is produced by Krizbeats

  • Fela can never be forgotten- Segun Arinze

    Fela can never be forgotten- Segun Arinze

    Ace actor, Segun Arinze says Fela’s contribution to African music can never be forgotten. Recall that Fela’s elder brother, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a former minister of health, proclaimed his death from complications related to HIV and AIDS on August 2, 1997.

    Arinze affirms that the issue the Afrobeat legend addressed in his music were still relevant.

     

    In his words:” He is a great icon and till date, his music still stands relevant. Most of those things he said in all his songs are prevalent till date. He was like a prophet but as the saying goes, a ‘prophet is not respected in his home town’, which is exactly what played out in his life. We still keep hope that the society will continue to imbibe the messages he left behind for the much needed change to come.”

    Describing how Fela used his music to influence the society, Arinze said: “And of course, he was being recognized by the government, people and the society; Fela was great, we can never forget him in Nigeria, Africa and the world stage. It even got to a level of staging a play in his honour, Fela on Broadway; what else can you ask for?” he asked.

    In 1967, Fela went to Ghana to think up a new musical direction. That was when Kuti first called his music Afrobeat. In 1969, Fela took the band to the United States where they spent 10 months in Los Angeles. While there, Fela discovered the Black Power movement through Sandra Smith (now Sandra Izsadore), a partisan of the Black Panther Party.

     

    The experience would heavily influence his music and political views .He renamed the band Nigeria ’70. Soon afterwards, the Immigration and Naturalization Service was tipped off by a promoter that Fela and his band were in the US without work permits. The band immediately performed a quick recording session in Los Angeles that would later be released as The ’69 Los Angeles Sessions.