TheNewsGuru

Tag: FELA KUTI

  • I was so reckless as a teenager – Femi Kuti

    I was so reckless as a teenager – Femi Kuti

    Afrobeat artiste, Femi Kuti has revealed how reckless how he was as a teenager that he thought that he’d die at a young age.

    The eldest son of legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, clocked 60 on June 16, 2022.

    In an interview with Goldmyne TV, Femi said he was surprised that he was still alive to celebrate his 60th birthday.

    He said: “I thought I would that I would die very young. I had a friend who would look at me and say, ‘this man will die’.

    “At the time, I had a bike so he be looking at like ‘this one, you’ll soon die’ because I was so reckless as a teenager.”

    “It’s an age where you just reflect on so many things in your life and you know, every moment is now precious with friends, family and your children. It’s an unbelievable age. I thought 50 was good but 60 is greater.”

  • How Femi banned me from New Afrika Shrine – Baba Ani

    How Femi banned me from New Afrika Shrine – Baba Ani

    Former band leader of Fela Kuti, Baba Ani has said Femi, the deceased’s son, allegedly banned him from visiting the New Afrika Shrine over his refusal to work with him.

    The saxophonist, whose real name is Lekan Animashaun, made this known in a recent interview with Arise TV to commemorate his 85th birthday.

    According to Baba Ani, after the death of Fela, Femi approached him and asked if he was going to join his music band or that of Seun.

    He said being Fela’s eldest son, he initially thought of working with him but later changed his mind and opted for Egypt 80, the late singer’s band, now headed by Seun.

    Ani said he felt more comfortable working with Seun’s band because he had started mentoring him before Fela breathed his last.

    “I was banned from entering the shrine by Femi. When Fela died, and Beko, who was then the manager of the band, was in prison. On two occasions, Femi called me privately, asking me if I was going to join him, or his uncle and Seun,” he said.

    “So, I told him that ‘you are the most senior son of Fela, and everything Fela left behind is in your hands, so that question shouldn’t have come from you. That was what I told him.’

    “As time went by, he saw that I was more with Seun and the Egypt 80 band. This is a young man I know very well. So, I decided to go with Seun. I was mentoring Seun, even before Fela died. I think that was my offense.

    “The very first day at the Egypt 80 band, because there was a quarrel and they had to go to court, the judge in charge of the case settled the matter in the chambers, and somewhere along the line, Seun was asked to start coming to play at the shrine.

    “On the very first day the band was going to play there, I got to Kalakuta, Fela’s house in Ikeja. I went upstairs to meet Seun and he told me he wouldn’t like me to be present at the show.

    “I asked why, he said ‘anytime I’m discussing with my brothers and I mention your name, what they used to say was unprintable. So, please don’t go with the band.’ He, however, assured me that I would be paid regardless.

    “When he got to the shrine that night, they went upstairs in his office to greet him, and he was so annoyed. He was looking for his gun. He started to hurl insults at me. Somewhere along with his rant, he told the boys to tell me not to show my face at the shrine anytime. Since that time, I have not been to the Shrine.”

    As at the time of filing this report, Femi has not reacted to Baba Ani’s claim.

  • Fela wanted to marry me-Onyeka Onwenu

    Fela wanted to marry me-Onyeka Onwenu

    In her engaging autobiography titled My Father’s Daughter, Onyeka Onwenu fondly called the elegant stallion made some revelations about her relationship with the late Afrobeat music icon, Fela Kuti.

    On how she met Fela, the ‘One love’ crooner writes: ”I had just turned into Falolu Street in Surulere when a car pulled up behind me. Seated in it was Fela. He was pleasant and introduced himself, while inviting me to his nightclub that evening. I knew that I was not going to honour the invitation, but it was rather flattering to be invited all the same.

    “The second time I encountered Fela was in 1984, a few years after I had returned from the United States. He had just been released from jail. Fela had been arrested for attempting to travel with his band for a gig in London with the sum of 1,600 pounds for their hotel accommodation. Carrying any amount of foreign currency was against one of the many decrees promulgated by the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta. Meanwhile, just days later a certain traditional ruler was allowed into the country with 53 suitcases, allegedly stuffed with the currency. The implications were many and I made these known in an opinion piece which was published in The Vanguard newspapers”.

     

    Recounting how Fela proposed marriage to her, she says: “In hindsight, I realise that the government could have had me arrested for being so critical. It was not a tolerant regime at all. I do recall, however, that Brigadier General Idiagbon, the second-in-command, had commented that the government would accept criticism from people like Onyeka Onwenu because ‘that woman loves Nigeria.’ I was touched and I longed to meet him but never did. His premature death in 1999 was a shock to me.

    In any case, after Fela was released from prison he sent a mutual friend, the journalist Onuorah Udenwa who is now a US-based pastor, to bring me to his club. I thought that he probably wanted to thank me for speaking up for him, but that was not it. He never even mentioned the article I had written in solidarity with him. Fela wanted to marry me, and I was flattered. I reminded him of the first time we met at Falolu Street and his invitation to visit his club. I thanked him for the honour of wanting me to become his consort, but I turned him down all the same”.

     

  • I was never a member of Fela’s band- Yeni Kuti

    Yeni Kuti, daughter of the legendary musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has stated that she is happy dancers are now respected. Yeni noted that she was never a member of her father’s band , contrary to what many believe.

    According to the energetic dancer: “I am very proud of where dancers have reached today. Back then, when you said you were a dancer, people looked down on you. But today, we have collectively worked to show that dancers deserve their place in society. I am really proud of where dancers are today.

    “I was never a member of Fela’s band. I was a foundation member of Femi’s band. I still choreograph and train the dancers. One of the most important lessons I’ve learnt is that hard work pays,” she told Punch.

    On how age has slowed her down, she said:“I am glad that people think I’m energetic, though I have slowed down considerably. With age comes aches and pains in different places. However, I wouldn’t trade my age for anything. Age is accompanied by experience, knowledge and the joy of being alive.”

     

  • I don’t want to be Fela- Femi declares

    I don’t want to be Fela- Femi declares

    Femi Kuti has always had to tell people not to compare him to his father, Fela Kuti.

    The Afro-beat singer took to his twitter page to reply critics who haven’t ceased to compare him to his late father and pioneer of the Afrobeat genre, Fela.

     

    This argument was recently reawakened following the release of Falz’s ‘Moral Instruction‘, a conscious album which drew samples from three of Fela songs.

    In his reaction , Femi said he does not want to be his father and that he has nothing to prove after putting out 10 albums.

    “I’ve said it several times, I probably will have to repeat till I die, I don’t want to be my father

    Pity for you ni o. I have said it several times , I probably will have to repeat till I die, I don’t want to be my father. I appreciate him, I honor him ,I respect him ,but I want to be me.I love being Me Femi Anikulapo-Kuti. And I totally appreciate myself and my being”.

    Femi also addressed an allegation that Fela wrote some of his early hit songs including the classic ‘Wonder Wonder’ song. He wrote: “My father never wrote wonder wonder for me. I had left him then. He never wrote any of my music. He would never do that.”

     

  • Fela’s music is for everyone, not his legacy- Seun Kuti

    Fela’s music is for everyone, not his legacy- Seun Kuti

    Late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s son, Seun Kuti, has stated that his father’s music his for everyone, but not his legacy.
    The outspoken musician took to his Instagram page on Friday, October 26, 2018, where he recounted the hardship his family went through under the military regime in Nigeria.
    “Whatever you think Fela went through, he went through with his family. We were his rock. My mother used to tell me bedtime stories about all the scars on her. My step mum, Najite was the first person the soldiers saw in kalakuta, she was swimming, they picked her up by her head from the pool and broke her neck!! My mother had a broken bayonet stitched into her and she couldn’t walk for 18months. The amount of state-sanctioned violence I have seen in my life as a child.

    “When I was 9 I saw the cops shot and kill one of my dads boys in front of shrine and just left him there for nothing. Fela tried to protect us but u can’t protect anyone from that! You know these fucking cops would come to our house and just shoot up the place at least 2ice a week? Do y’all know that? Or u think this is just play play? See Fela’s music is a gift for the world and everyone is welcome but our legacy is ours alone, to protect and nurture. Y’all fakers stay waaaaay back. This isn’t your space. #getthesax,” he wrote.
     
    Seun who is fast gaining the reputation for expressing his opinions about issues pertaining to his family, recently said a lot of singers want to become Fela but cannot make the sacrifices he made.
     
    The music star and son to the late music icon made this known via his Instagram page on Monday, October 15, 2018
     
    “People will never understand you without going through the education you have tried to promote. Every Tom Dick And Ashy is the new Fela just because they want to smoke igbo and chase women. How about the sacrifice? How about duty? They want to be Fela and at the same time be the darlings of all the oppressors. All these new Fela’s and those possessed by his spirit hobnobbing with white supremacists”.
     
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BpYxn8dlND_/?taken-by=bigbirdkuti
     

  • 2018 Felabration: Foreign tourists express enthusiasm to learn more of Nigerian culture

    Some Foreign tourists at the ongoing 2018 Felabration on Tuesday expressed their interest to learn more about Nigerian culture.
    They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos that they were enticed to attend Felabration due to the love they have for Nigerian culture and the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
    NAN reports that 2018 Felabration will hold from Oct.15 to Oct. 21, featuring Fela artwork competition, symposium, music concert and afrobeats dance competitions.
    An Australian, Pip Ryan, said she wanted to learn more about Nigerian dance.
    “The late legendary musician projected the most interesting part of Nigerian culture; this culture is fascinating and I am glad to be here to learn more of this beautiful culture,” she said.
    Another Australian tourist, Joana Tyler, said late Fela, who fought against depression, was greatly admired because of his uniqueness in exhibiting the difference between wrong and right in politics.
    Tyler said that Nigeria was a place to be to get entertained.
    “Fela’s music, which showcased freedom, anti-corruption for all, was loved by most Australians, because of the truthfulness and spirit of oneness in his music,” she said.
    Similarly, Greg Cook, an Australian, said Nigerian culture was very rich and inexhaustible, adding that the week-long event would educate him more about Nigerian culture.
    “I am here purposely because of Felabration. I have been listening to Fela’s music for long and I enjoy his rhythm, lyrics and messages.
    “I have been to most African countries, I love Nigeria because there is so much love in the country right from the airport,” he said.
    A Canadian, Hugh Campbell, who attended Felabration with his wife, said he had been in the country since 1979.
    Campbell said that no country was as resilient and welcoming like Nigeria, having stayed in the country for over 30 years.
    “I am here with my wife and I really appreciate Nigerians for their dynamism and rich culture.
    “Fela gave his life for the great country; he is 80 today and I wish him a happy post humors birthday,” he said.

  • How Fela danced to a different drumbeat

    How Fela danced to a different drumbeat

    Nothing about Fela is regular or conventional. He wasn’t supposed to be a musician. He was meant to just be contented with being the son of an Anglican priest and an activist mother who ended as a fine doctor

    Despite studying Classical Music at London’s Trinity College, Fela refused to walk that path, deciding not to produce soothing, peaceful music.Rather, he chose to create his own identity and walk the road less travelled.

     

    FELA

    Fela’s music was more than melody and instrumentations, his sound was defined by the message therein.

    In the 1970’s, Nigeria’s military government was as autocratic as it was corrupt. While some musicians shrank in fear and made songs to celebrate these leaders, Fela was the opposite. He condemned them severely and mocked them ruthlessly. He called them thieves and zombies and rapists and killers. The military government fought back by arresting him several times. They would later burn down his house and ‘kill’ his mother.

     

     

    Twenty one years after his death,the burning issues he sang about are still the present realities Nigerians and Africans at large are still grappling with.

    Water, food, light, shelter are still an exclusive preserve of just a fortunate privileged few.

    In a chat with TheNewsGuru, Ycee a popular Nigerian artiste said:” Fela was not just a musician but a public figure. He left a legacy and was a freedom fighter. When he was alive he tackled the government in a way that not too many musicians of his time and of his generation have not been able to do. The spirit of Fela is inspirational as a result of the legacy he has created with his life and his music. That is why Felabration is a week-long event. It shows that after his death, Fela is a major pioneer in Africa”.

     

    Fela died on the 2nd of August 1997, but his impact still lives with us. This is the tale of a man who created his own culture and danced to a different drumbeat.

  • Fela Kuti’s memories flood Twitter following French president’s visit to New Afrika Shrine

    Fela Kuti’s memories flood Twitter following French president’s visit to New Afrika Shrine

    Some Nigerians have taken to twitter to share fond memories of Afrobeat legend, late Fela Anikulapo, Kuti following the historic visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to the New Afrika Shrine.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the excited fans, who shared notes on Fela’s musical prowess, appreciated his relevance and international repute, even after death.

    Fela was a legendary multi-instrumentalist, musician, and composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist and political maverick.

    Fans analysed the importance of Fela’s sound and the honour of Macron’s visit as the French president becomes the first ‘real president’ to enter the Afrika Shrine.

    @I am realjayson tweeted, “If President Emmanuel Macron could visit the Afrika Shrine in Lagos to #CelebrateAfricanCulture, then truly, we are yet to really understand and appreciate the value of Fela! What have we done with Fela? Fela is enough tourism.”

    @69entertainmentbrand said, “Fela Anikulapo Kuti is truly a Legend!!! for President Emmanuel Macron to visit African Shrine in Lagos to celebrate African Culture.”

    @Etyn_oba wrote, “The only international music I hear repeatedly even on ferries in Singapore is Fela Kuti. He’s known and celebrated outside Nigeria.”

    @Mayowaadekanye tweeted, “The idea of Fela goes beyond music. The man preached mental independence and stood against neo- colonialism in Africa with everything he had. Music was just one of his tools.”

    @Sammiejexie said, “Even in death Baba Fela lives… Truly he has death in his pouch… Anikulapo #CelebrateAfricanCulture.”

    Fela, a son of a cleric, Rev. Isreal Ransome-Kuti and Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti, a human rights activist was born on October 15, 1938 and died on August 2, 1997 in Lagos.(NAN)

  • Incredible! Watch Femi Kuti, son perform together on stage

    For countless leading African musicians, music runs in the family. We have seen fascinating situations where Fathers perform with their sons and daughters on stage and thereafter pass on the music heritage to them.

    This came to the fore recently when Femi Kuti and his first son, Made played the saxophone together at a recent music fiesta held in the famed African Shrine in Lagos.

    Unknown to many, musical blood also runs in Femi’s son whose father, Fela Kuti pioneered Afrobeat, a funky, brassy, fiercely political style of music. Just like Fela who passed the musical torch to his sons, Femi and Seun, are carrying on the Afrobeat tradition with their own bands, songs, and tours. Like their father, Femi is also grooming Made to become a successful music prodigy.

    He captured the feeling this way:”What a great night, it was last nite at the Shrine .My eldest son Made Kuti going toe 2 toe with me on the alto Sax, I’m grateful & thankful ”

    Watch the video below