Fela Kuti

...and this might be why I tune into your "show"... ha...

...thanks for the introduction. As a matter of fact...will be in NYC ... might check it out.

Cheers!
~rhonda

I grew up with the GA Sea Island Singers.
I know very well the spacial rhythms within the structure, hearing only their voices and hand clapping, feet stomping, that supported their amazing harmonies.
Thanks for this, Derek!

thanks for the suggestion Derek! Will check it out ;)

Fela da MAN!

Freedom fighter

Derek-

So true... Fela is one of the greatest as he has influenced so many major artists in addition to the ones mentioned here. He was someone who could break down walls with his voice, and set the stage for many of the political changes that happened in Africa in the 70's and 80's.

Thanks for bringing him into the light in 2009!

Respect-

Steffen

Yes! Yes! Afrobeat! Fela!

This music is as funky as it gets. If you want to play funkier, study this stuff.

Some of my closest friends and collaboratrs are members of Antibalas, the band that plays onstage in Fela! For the past decade, they've been exposing thousands to this brilliant and almost forgotten music.

I've been influence greatly by these guys, and even have found music I've made in unrelated styles (children's music, film scores) to bear the unmistakable rhythms of Afrobeat.

Doesn't surprise me that Derek appreciates it!

Fela was a legend that had great influence on music, culture and politics in Africa particularly and beyond.

I thank God for your person who sincerely credits Fela with the influence he had on you. That's not just wisdom, but it clearly shows how much you've learnt and how far you've gone in the ladder of life.

God bless you Derek

Hey Derek,
Fela had a wicked rhythm section! The drummer, Tony Allen, simply awesome! He still performs (he should be on youtube).
You're a lucky man, meeting him personally and watching him perform live!

Thanks Derek for sharing this. I will check it out, and pass it on. Getting turned on to new and inspiring sounds are among my favorite things about having musician/music lover friends.

massive influence on me too

This is surreal. I just worked with the son of Fela Kuti's drummer (I-AM-SOUL.COM) yesterday and here you are talking about this today!

Derek,
Thanks for the article. When the cab driver asked you what kind of music do you play, what was your answer? And how can I hear some of your music? How do you earn your living now that you've sold the business? Thanks, Frank

So glad to know this about you, Derek. Ahh, the kinship grows. I have been a Fela fan for 20 years and was thrilled to see Fela! when it was off-bway and have tickets to see it on Broadway next week. Really looking forward to see what changes Bill Jones had to make in it. An amazing show about a truly mythic and fascinating human being. Fela lives!

This is a great example of beauty in simplicity. I try and try to get fellow musicians to jam on one or two chords and the attention span just isn't there sometimes. There is so much to do with dynamics and arrangement as you say - it doesn't have to be different chords all the time.
Derek, thanks for sharing this.
Rhan

I remember when I heard and then saw Sun Ra,
It was the same feeling you got from Fela.
Absolutely unique and strange and wonderful.
I saw Cecil Taylor and Ornette Coleman and that was also wild and deeply moving.
Far reaching and fascinating.

Thanks for sharing D,
Peace

Derek -
I live on Long Island and my Wife and her sister saw FELA last week. Neither are musicians, thought they love music. They were
both so taken by the effect of the music that on Saturday at a family dinner, my sister-in-law insisted on pulling out her laptop and playing some of FELA's music for everyone.
She also got tickets for four aunts and uncles.

Larry Hunter

Yeh!
Fela's approach to music was very unique, a master of call and response and jam vibes. He's been a huge influence on my band and writing, rhythmically and otherwise. Fela's influence got me into afro-beat and Malinke tribal rhythms from Guinea. Up here in Toronto, Canada, there's a huge community of African music lovers and drummers. Thanks for posting this Derek, i never knew you were so into him, great that you caught him live, he was only here one time to play so i missed him in the early 80's...but i did see King Sunny Ade', my first African performer, and he was great also.

Cheers,
Chris

Fela isn't only the greatest exponent of afro-beat ,but possibly the greatest most courageous political activist of all time.I Love you fela.

I agree-- saw the previews last year... so good!! So glad it made it to Broadway.

Thanks for turning me on to him several years ago!

I'm there !!! Thanks Derek!

I have never heard of Fela til now.In the same vein most artists I have played with have never heard of my musical heroes like Jagjit and Chitra Singh, Shaukat Ali, Gurdas Mann etc. I love it when you can listen outside of the box, and find some inspiration. Thanks again Derek.

I touched down in Lagos, Nigeria as a 10 year old, having never set foot outside my state, and never on an airplane.....touching down in a 747. Oh, those were the days. I was immediately taken with sounds of drums and singing by a group at the airport, in brightly colored garments. Their garments were wrapped all around them, and the women wore headwraps that were equally lovely, made of the same gorgeous fabric. The people all over the airport were also listening, and in this backdrop of rythm and color, I arrived enchanted on arrival, at the Lagos International Airport. I have heard that times there have changed, and that Lagos as a city is gravely overpopulated, etc. Nothing, however, can erase my first impressions of West Africa. I am so grateful to have experienced the music there, as I moved there two years later, to Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The voices and harmonies of the African Music cannot be explained easily----just simply gorgeous, rich, and mesmerizing! I feel so blessed. Thanks Derek for letting others know of this marvelous artist who broke the ice in the U.S. with this musical style. Wonderful!

Derek, very cool to hear your music man!! I dig on this a lot and enjoyed the breakdown, which totally took me to back to MJ's Thriller. I hope you're doing well.


Andrew

Hello Derek,
It's been some time away from it all for a minute,but thank you for the reminder as I had missed him during that time.I might be in new York and will try to see the Show on Broadway.
So glad you mention it!
Sonja.

Berklee College of Music was where I learned of his music. Wow, I wonder if it was partially because of you spreading the word among students. I know that we were both in Boston at the same time. Thanks for sharing.

FELA???? everybody say, "Yeah Yeah." Yes, I too have a Fela connection. I got to see Fela perform live TWICE!! Each time, I was 6 months pregnant! The first time, the sound check was more awesome than the live performance, and the live performance was INCREDIBLE!!! Why, because each artist/musician had to solo or groove until the soundman was done. Fela did a crrraaaaazzzzzzzyyyyy keyboard solo!!! So, we got to see him perform twice in one night! The second time, he and his ensemble were angry that the food they had requested, was not ready or was no good. so, they did not perform until the Foo Foo was just right. They started the show like 4 hours "late", everyone waited until they ate. they performed like 5 songs, and played until 2 or 3 am. Each song lasted about 45 min to one hour!!! What about the two brothers at the front of the stage that play the claves ALL NIGHT LONG holding down that "simple and crucial rhythm"?????
One of our early bass players, ID, is from Nigeria, and he played with Fela for a while back home, even grew up in his "compound" when he was a youth! Last connection, family last name is VELA!!!!

So, yeah, Fela and his music are/were amazing and to say he influenced my life, my music, & my African worldview would be an understatement!!!

Is it true that Jay-Z is in the production? Some big hip-hop names??? MY fav tune is ITT International Thief Thief!!!!

Thanks for sharing this, I was a fan of Gulla music long before I ever heard of Fela, but the influences are certainly powerful from both sides of the ocean!

It's great to read stories of inspiration and also great to see support for NEW theatre on Broadway instead of the plague of revivals and adaptations.

If it is still on when I get back from Thailand I will go see it.

Fela Kuti was the African musician that said Paul McCartney was stealing African beats and music while Paul was in Lagos recording Band On The Run.It is interesting that on the LP BAND ON THE RUN there are some interesting Afrotype beats makes you wonder.

Fela was the father of "rap". He was doing it
first.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANS DEREK......AS A FORMER GUITARIST OF FELA KUTI..I CAN STILL RELIVE AL THOSE MEMORABLE MOMENT..KALETA

Hey Derek,
Pretty good stories, we have lots of Nigerian cab drivers in New Orleans still. I am now trying to help a fellow from Ghana to finish his project, that crazy African music makes one think that music does have some value!
Ciao
Gary

Kulu se Mama for ever

Derek you have such a way of putting a person in your conversation. I was there at each performance as you spoke. I got to check out those sites. I love the experience of live music. Since I watch a lot of PBS on various types of music this is going to take me further in my music.

Thank you.

Paula

You should also check out King Sunny Adé. He uses a pedal steel guitar as his lead instrument on the Lp/CD "Juju Music." Since I play the pedal steel guitar, I was completely turned on by the migration of my instrument to Nigeria.

I just watched a few videos of Fela and I can hear the similarities of he and James Brown.

Thanks for the recommendation, Derek! :)

I saw Fela & Egypt 80 play half a dozen times in London in the late 1980's. Just amazing. He was a great soul, a man who took risks musically, socially & politically, gaving up the privileges of his upbringing to live a life of honesty & shattering integrity. His was a life truly lived.

Fela Kuti was great! He and King Sunny Ade set the standard for Afro-Beat for 20 years. Johnny Klegg should be in there too. Great stuff. I did not see Fela, but saw Sunny Ade in LA in the 80's. Rockin' - I still use the culmination of that experience in One World Tribe.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm also a big fan of Fela Kuti. I'm listening to "Water No Get No Enemy" right now. I love that track!

Found whole version O.D.O.O.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPomMvRbbOQ

Good Summer festival music.

Yes one of the best concerts I saw in my life in London early 80s at his peak I'll never forget it, then early 2000 I saw his son with his band in Australia at the Blues Festival also amazing same intensity. He fought for the free voice of Nigeria Fela a great musician great performer and like you say it influenced everyone around him. Thank for the insight to Remain in Light still one of my favourite albums of all time and now I understand the connection with him, all things are connected aren't they, music is the language of the planet. thanks Virginia

Hello Derek:

Well I know you love the influence of other people's music because you helped 350,000 of us at cdbaby! You are an icon my friend!

I think I read deeper into the experience or perhaps another perspective of it and felt the open mindedness that can help all of us to appreciate all things and their value to our life experience here.
Having the ability to so keenly appreciate what came from the Heart of another creator is a powerful human tool or sense to have.
I too certainly love the primitive roots that all Art and Music came from. There are these wonderful threads waiting for us to fall in love with.
I think what really got me down deep about what you wrote was how well you described the experience. I felt like I was there too.
Perhaps that's what the music did to you. For the fleeting moment everytime you hear it you feel like you are right there with the performers experiencing what they are, and indeed you are.
Music and Art is a world of it's own in so many ways.
I love your ability to compute what is happening with the music and the vision you have to make the songs come to life and live in our world.
I too will buy these albums now as I'm hooked. Thank you.
Thank you also for reminding me in so many ways to keep an open mind about all of the new experiences that await us all if we open our minds with love and kindness.
I truely enjoy your communications so much.
When we started selling our music at cdbaby almost a decade ago the perky happy messages from CDBABY were a healing force for me in so many ways and affected the music we created.
We always need to feel good before we create even if it's feeling good about feeling bad. Makes for a great song.
I love the roots that drums can offer. The song you described covered all of the bases and hooked you for sure. Think of how many daydreams wonderful music provides! There is just not enough time in this world for us.
Keep on Rockin Derek.
You're incredible my friend.

John David Hart

Hey Man,
I didn't Know You Were A Resident Of Suburbia Chi-ILL., One More tHing We Have In Common As Well As "FELA KUTI" Long Time Student Of His Stylee Crucial Sound Maan !!!

Thanks for the suggestion Derek. I am a classical/new age pianist, and felt much the same way when I had the oportunity to play for Aaron Copland when I was 17.

I have been a huge Fela fan for as long - check out the mix tape K'Naan and J.Period did recently (it is the first of a series of 3 called "the messengers" - the other two are bob marley and bob dylan).

You can download it for free here:

http://www.zshare.net/download/6496575224aced15/

Africa invented rhythm in the same way that India invented instruments, in my opinion anyway. I can never get enough African Music. I always have had the suspicion that Spike Jones, in the 1930's, but mostly 40's was influenced by African music, only because of his very, very distinctive use of percussion. He used 'rubber duckies' 'whoopee cushions' and just about anything that nobody else was using at the time. I've always considered him my 'Fela', because, although he never got quite as big as Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey, or Duke Ellington, he seemed to clearly maintain a loyal cult following throughout his career.

I grow up listening to this style of music.

nice , It reminds me of an african percussion band from the 70 s, I can t remember there name, mosambeke maybe, any way beutiful music, When I was with roy brooks aboriginal percussion choir we did a 11/4 piece called healling tones, all wooden instuments, I guess in africa when someones sick thay play wooden instruments and there healled , It was amazing how good it made us feel

Thanks Derick

Hey Derek, I will surely check out his music ! Thanks for the introduction.
Arthur

A couple of months ago I did a Fela Kuti special on my weekly radio show. Might be a good introduction for anyone looking for somewhere to start.

http://www.bsidebeats.com/musicology-1-fela-kuti/

(p.s. the first song isn't Fela Kuti, it's just a good song to start a radio show with :) )

Hi Derek,

I never knew that part of you. I have had an African music ensemble in KC for 5 years. You just can't compare that style to anything else, and it has motivated me in my music AND life in many many ways. I can't get as close to Fela as Manu Dibango or Angelique Kidjo perhaps because the politics of his lyrics were very localized. The Rumbas of West Africa and the pounding walking tempo music of South Africa (Boyoyo Boys) have been more influential to me, although, as an arranger, Fela certainly is important to study. King Sunny Ade's album "Aura" is a desert isle pick for sure. He's a Nigerian singer who has taken Hi-Life music to the world. Great to know you're a part player. I should have guessed with your west coast localle. There was a great balafon band from Seattle called Balafon. Have you ever caught them? I was lucky enough to be in San Fran for a Golden Gate park concert. Awewsome!

Peace,
Mark

I am going to see it for the second time. Members of my wife's dance company "Forces of Nature" make up most of the females in the play. I saw it before it hit bway and loved it.

Foundation roots music!!!!

Fela has a great story.

Thanks again>>

BLESS UP the Beat!!!

Being part of a unified musical force is a great experience.

Yea I had a listen and Fela sure had a way to put it together Thanks Derek for the extra music experience

Very nice Derek. I really do love what I saw.

Yes, Fela was an incredible revolutionary spirit. When I was 17 I worked for the French label Celluloid that put out his music along with Tura Kunda and Mano Dibango.
Unfortunately Fela was in jail for 2 years during my tenure there. He was constantly being raided by the police. They even raided his house when his wife jumped out the window and died.
Thankfully his son Femi carries on the family tradition and has an excellent band.

btw~ his middle name is Anikulapo which means 'Death in my pocket'.

A bunch of his stuff appears to be available on imeem as well. Listening to some now.. always good to listen to new stuff :)

Who was it that said "I don't play music, I invent it"?

Derek,
This maestro is not only a musician, he is a freedom fighter, a political activist to the core, the masses here in Nigeria are very proud of him. Am surprise to know how influential his music is outside the shores of Africa.

Here are some literal translation of his various appellations
Abami da -(the strange one) Anikulapo - (the that has death in his pocket, therefore he is not afraid to die.)
Alanini -(pain in the ass of bad politicians).

FELA WILL NEVER DIE!! i love that.

Thanks for the sport light! indeed something good can come out of NIGERIA.

I recorded a song by him about 20 years ago when I was with a reggae band called the Instigators. Great music

not heard of him- but I'm familiar with junkanous from caribbean island sounds and I like that so I'll check him out- keep it comin- thanks- T Scott

RIGHT!! I am so happy that Fela's message is being heard! I went to High School in Nigeria an the 60's, played on Nigerian TV and clubs, was weaned on High Life and JuJu Music. I met Fela and Femi at the Shrine the year before he passed... I love his freedom inspiring, recklessly monotonous chanting and grooving...
TAKE THE MUSIC BACK!!!
DanB

Never heard of him till now but,will check him out.

Fela is definitely a hero, in many ways. I played many of his songs and his style. Concerts are up to 6 hours long; amazing musicians, endless possibilities! :-)

The development of "Afrobeat" music in Nigeria certainly parallels the *complete* urbanization of two indigenous Nigerian tribes. That urbanization affected the instruments they played, the music they played, in a way (I think) not found along the coast of the continent to the west of Nigeria where that complete urbanization did not take place. I recall there is an old PBS program about this, from many years ago.

Some day I'll tell you my story about Nigerian oil tankers and American No. 2 parboiled rice. Somewhat too involved to repeat here.

Thank you for sharing this Derek, having been a member of Felas Egypt 80 and his son Femi Kutis Postive force it is really great to see all the recognition and appreciation. If you have not had the time to check out my Cd Identity then do so, as I continue to fly that afrobeat flag from my base in London. http://cdbaby.com/cd/delesosimi
A real shame the nigerian government have not appreciated his impact world wide!

People may still hold him as being very controversial during his years as an inspirator and instigator but he has now with his innovators left an evergreen present of a lifetime contribution towards music from the Giant continent of Africa with love!Afro-Beat was born,is alive in all formats of genres and you can feel that too on my latest album "Sweet Sunshine" due release and launch on the 10th December 2009.Its available from Sterns Music both UK/USA.Plus digital downloads from www.cdbaby.com Thanks Derek for giviing me the platform to express my appreciation to a great musical Ambassador and dont you forget that you are fantastic too!!!!!!!

I ditto Karyn and Devin Theme.


Waiting On Love, Waiting On You,


Ms. Dimples

Good suggestion. I will see it in Dec.

Again a valuable history lesson and living and working in NYC.

Derek:

Excellent blog! Fela and James Brown have been a huge influence of mine when I grew up in a Small village in Kenya. Hence the term FROFUNK - Afusion of afrobeat and funk. You can hear Fela influence on my Song Shelter and Thief in the house on my new album "Black President". Http://afrofunk.net

Much respect,
Sila

This is a great article. Music is very influential on most people's lives.

My husband is Nigerian, and he plays Fela all the time!

Amazing, James Brown thing was as well
Aleee

Yeah, I`ve heard some great stories about him from a bassist friend of mine who went to Africa on tour and met him - hung out and smoked pot with him (which Fela did every minute of the day apparently, when he wasn`t making music). Famous and infamous. Thanks for the heads up on the play - didn`t know about it, but will try to take my Japanese girlfriend when she visits during Xmas!

Hi, I wanted to share this website www.afrofunke.com, it might be of interest to some.
Thank you Derek for all your thoughts. Happy Thanksgiving, Sky.

So Derek,

What little club was it that you saw Fela in? I live in Boston. Just curious......

Thanks for the info about Fela

Billy Carl Mancini
BIRD MANCINI

Cool. I quite enjoy Wasis Diop.

http://www.myspace.com/wasisdiopmusic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_k3mTmel48

Great story. Fela Kuti was easily among the greatest musical geniuses of the 20th century. I think his music is absolutely majestic.

please check out my book on Fela Kuti called 'Fela Kalakuta: Notes' published in 2009 by the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Holland (ISBN No.978 90 6832 748 9) and available on amazon.com. I worked and stayed with Fela in Ghana and Nigeria several times in the 1970's - John Collins Music Department University of Ghana

$5 mp3 download of Zombie available at Amazon.com. I've never heard any of his stuff, but I'm looking forward to checking it out now!

per my previous post:
http://www.amazon.com/Zombie/dp/B002MHTJJM/ref=pe_26200_13693070_as_img_6/

fela has been a favorite of mine since that remain in light album. i was hipped to the kuti influence by adrian belew who i had cornered at the bar following a performance by gaga (see the lone rhinoceros solo album) who were opening for the league of gentlemen (robert fripp's outrageous dance band) at Borgart's in Cincinnati. i asked him who was his current favorite influence and he told me how blown away everyone in the heads etc. was by fela. he told me a lot of other technical things that night in exchange for a shot and a couple of beers (among other '70s type things, lmao)--quite the cool and accomodating young man i must say. adrian had other things he could have been doing that evening, like being backstage so he could be asked to join crimson as their lead singer--which indeed happened, obviously, sometime later that evening.

yeh derek!
i miss fela too.i`m glad he liked my music enough to let me record some of my songs with him and his band egypt80.he played some great sax on it and even sang backing vocals on it with me.that cd is still available on line and from cdbaby.com thanks to you.
it was real nice meeting you in london the last time. all the best . toks

A good friend-Rujeko Dumbachena-is dancing in that Fela show...good stuff!

Fela was my first 'African' Cassette. I bought "Go low" and got it home and put it on. There was one song per side of the cassette :) I felt ripped off! Ha! And now I play Zimbabwean music for a living...these small singular events that happen in our lives can have such a big affect.

That's cool to hear you played guitar in the afrobeat group. Listened to much Thomas Mapfumo?

I caught him (and his extraordinarily physical backup singers) at WOMADelaide this year and loved it.

Derek you hit the jackpot again.
Knew Fela when he was starting out and studying in London back in da dayze. A genius and legend.

So amazing all the peeps living comments..Afro beat lives on around the world.

PEACE.

Mataya

I bumped into Fela Kuti when a girl I was dating put it on one night a few years ago and I was stunned...brilliant. I really enjoy finding out who my favorite artists are/were influenced by and digging into that. Its lead me to some great places...early Kinks, Guided By Voices, Buddy Holly, John Coltrane, Talking Heads, Black Flag...and more importantly...new ideas.

Thanks Derek--for reminding me how much I love the "rhythm of the beat" and how visceral it all is. Your music is good!

I fell in love with the music of all of Africa around "91--Fela's music was so over the top-it stood head and shoulders above--as a conviction, political statement, a lifestyle , and a frenetic cosmic vibration--I am still mesmerized, and my soul flies when I hear this stuff---

I too learned of Fela from a Nigerian Taxi Driver. Love it!

Wow! This is a blessing Fela is remembered .i'm so blessed to have met him growing up in Ikeja at his shrine as a young n .i was born in nyc but my moms from Nigeria and when i was super young i was taken back home to c family.Fela was is Fam to me we called him Papa 70.Great article Derek thanks for shinning this light

thats music with substance,great music that heals the mind and soul I love it,blessed love

Thank you for FELA!
Last but not least, it has ranked in the TOP 10 musical descoveries of the year!

I´m from Buenos Aires and I admire your work.

Have you ever thought of going to GUCA Festival in Serbia? It could be quite an experience for man as you! http://www.youtube.com/balkanmusiccenter Contact. Ilija Stnakovic he organize it!

If you ever came to BA you must see this woman www.mariavolonte.com

Both of them rank in the Top 10 musical descoveries of this yaer

Thank again, and happy new year!

Nico Bottini
Thanks Nico! Sorry no Serbia plans. But I will come to BA some day! — Derek

это очень крутой музыкант и ещё мне нравится, что у тебя блог теперь и на русском языке) спасибо

"Groove" in it's most pure form has always been the most natural and effective means to make us dance, relate and communicate.
The KUTI's are important factors to music and politics.

it is 1982 and i am preparing my getaway from cleveland with my wife and kids. i had heard about fela but not heard him till i'm lying on the floor screwing something into something in the school bus we are fixing up for the trip to the sf bay area. I hear this music and it is like jolt of electricity passing though me. i knew that was fela. later that day a guy came to look at the bed we are selling and he is from Nigeria. i mention having heard fela on the radio and when he returns the next day with the truck to pick up the bed he brings me a cassette he has made of fela.
i am blown away and there is no turning back.
when the first band i form in the bay area, unruly world, does a fela inspired song i wrote called Amandla (Power) i play it for an African cab drive who said it sounded like fela. i am thrilled.
my music is much different now but
fela lives

Да, бесспорно Фела является неоспоримым лидером и отцом основателем стиля "Афробит"!!!! Музыкант высшего класса и не только музыкант, но в статье допущена грубая ошибка (уверен, что это просто опечатка)! Фела Аникулапо Рамсон Кути умер в 1987 году.

Ja, diese Erfahrung habe ich auch mit Fela Kuti gemacht, ein Freund von mir ein Musikjournalist sagte mir einmal bei einer der, nicht weinigen, Diskussionen über Musik die wir hatten im süffigen aber voll anwesenden Zustand, du musst dir unbedingt deisen Typen Fela Kuti besorgen, der wäre der absolute Hammer.
Zu dem sagte er mir einer der besten Drumspieler der Welt Tony Alen wurde in seiner Band sein...

So habe ich ein paar Alben käuflich erworben und war einfach paralisiert, werde es nie vergessen der erste Song begann so, "We are gonna make this evening four tunes, first tune is, Ansage auf Ibu, gelächter im Publikum, Let's start why are we came to do into the room." Mein Gott war dies eine Offenbarung. Live Album aus dem Jahr 1971 mit dem Gastdrummer Ginger Baker.

Yeah!.......Fela is one the world's greatest musician,composer,guitarist,pianist,vocalist and drummer. He is many talents rolled into one,I am so happy because I am a Nigerian! To learn that,the world recognizes the great work of the legend is expected,because he puts his life,passion,commitment and activism into his music.At many occasions,he has had to suffer brutally in the hands of the government,while soliciting for the masses.His music go beyond just mere music,its laced with voice of the oppressed!!!

hello derek ...your web page is great...my nam is bobby and i have been mezmorized by felas music too ...please respond if you are out there still....i would like to talk about afrobeat guitar with you please...thank you

Hey! I think I was at that same Fela concert in Boston in 87. I can't remember the name of the club, but it was a small, narrow space on Washington Street with a narrow stage between the bar and the windows. it was really amazing cause the band was right on top of the audience. does that sound familiar? do you recall the name of the club? you could have been right next to me!

Who can play Opposite People on guitar or bass?
Please share tabs if you have it.

Regards

Time to start listening to Antibalas if you're not already.

Went to Boston, huh? Drove 20 miles, huh? I did travel once to a foreign country—the only time I've ever been there— to see a favourite science fiction author.

I am still on awe of the American scout who traveled to Rhodesia to meet Cecil Rhodes, and then scouted in Africa.

I can't think of any passion worth acting on today, and maybe that's a pity.