Fela Anikulapo Kuti :Nigeria's Greatest and Biggest Music Export

Fela: The man

Born on October 15, 1938 to Israel and Funmilayo Ransome Kuti,Fela Anikulapo Kuti quietly sauntered into a world where the road to fame branched out all around him.At the age of nine, he was already an organist at shool, a feat that radically confirms the fact that music flowed in in his blood from birth.Much later in his life, Fela went to Trinity College, London where he mastered the piano, the trumpet and the act of singing.Fela carved a niche for himself as the first musician in post colonial Africa who worked so hard to instill African consciousness in his brand of music.

Fela started his musical career with Koola Lobitos, a brand that was formed in London and made up of Nigerians, and West Indians.The turning point in his career came in December 1969 when he had a concert in U.S.Somewhere along the line, he met Sandra Smith of Black Panther, who ignited Fela's hitherto latent Pan Africanism.

Back in Nigeria,Fela took his music to an outstanding height.It was therefore an undeniably glorious exit for this very unique trail-blazer when he had to pass on to the great beyond on August 2,1997.

Fela:His brand

Fela created, nurtured and established a reconstruction of Afrobeat music brand with a very strong international relevance.His music had a lot of control, rhythm and messages.Femi and Seun Kuti (his sons), Lagbaja and the hundred of Fela's disciples have succeeded Fela even though the Abami Eda (The weird one) will forever remain in a class of his own.A report in an April edition of The News(A Nigerian Tabloid) quoted Fela thus :" I play a unique brand of music.Music to me na mission, no be entertainment...Music na my gift. That is why i keep moving forward and not backward.

Fela:The Prophet

Apart from invention of his rare brand of music, his music was very heavily laden with prophetic prowess. He criticized politicians and governments (both in the developed and the developing nations), not sparing the 'military messiahs' whom he saw as initiators of setbacks that bedeviled the Nigeria nation.His prophesies are now incontestable.

Fela:The Legend

Fela had a rare combination of spirituality, radicalism, love for weed, woman and sex.His fame spread like wild fire when he made face-off with the military, a period that witnessed the burning of his house among others.Just like other music icons (Bob Marley, Elvis Presley e.t.c) the essence of Fela consciousness will continue to stand the test of time. "Adieu the fighter of the poor masses".

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