Artist

Fela Kuti

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About

Born: 15 October 1938, in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Died: 2 August 1997, of AIDS and heart failure in Lagos, Nigeria.

He formed his first group Koola Lobitos in 1963. The large jazz, funk, and afrobeat collective underwent many changes in the following decades but the style remained the same thanks to Fela's vision and other key members such as drummer Tony Allen.

In 1969 after visiting America, Fela returned to Nigeria and opened club Afro Spot in Lagos also changing the group's name to Afrika 70. He played with Ginger Baker on the album Ginger Baker Live with Afrika 70 and Fela Kuti, released in 1971 and along side Bobby Gass, better known as Bobby Tench from The Jeff Beck Group, on Stratavarious which was released the next year. In 1981 Fela changed the group's name for the last time to Egypt 80.

He was known as Fela Ransome-Kuti until about 1978, when he renamed himself Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the middle name meaning 'he who carries death in his pouch'. He was a human rights revolutionary who started his own political party, Movement Of The People, to protest the kleptocracy in Nigeria. He had his own compound called the Kalakuta Republic in Lagos, which he declared independent from Nigeria, where he and his uncountable number of wives lived and they were constantly terrorized by the government.

His influence on funk and African music is unsurpassed and has put his name to many albums, the total number thought to be 77.

Father of Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti.

Data provided by Discogs

Top Tracks

Most popular songs on Last.fm · click ▶ to preview on Spotify

1

Zombie

Fela Kuti

2

Water No Get Enemy

Fela Kuti

3

Expensive Shit

Fela Kuti

4

Lady

Fela Kuti

5

Gentleman

Fela Kuti

Tour Dates

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Releases

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Setlists

20 live performances · data from Setlist.fm

All · 20
1997
1996
1994
1992
1991
1990
1989

Setlist data provided by Setlist.fm

March 7, 1997

Muson Centre

Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

  • 1. Clear Road for Jaga Jaga

  • 2. CSAS


October 1, 1996

Water Parks

Ikeja, Ogun, Nigeria

  • 1. CSAS

  • 2. C.O.P. (Country Of Pain)


January 1, 1994

Lekki Beach

Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

  • 1. Chop and Clean Mouth Like Nothing Happen Nah New Name for Stealing

  • 2. M.A.S.S. (Music Against Second Slavery)

  • 3. B.B.C. (Big Blind Country)


November 16, 1992

Cambridge Junction

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom


November 11, 1992

Fabrik

Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

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Fela Kuti's most-played tracks include Zombie, Water No Get Enemy, Expensive Shit, Lady, Gentleman. Listen to these songs and explore more from their catalog on this page.

Born: 15 October 1938, in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Died: 2 August 1997, of AIDS and heart failure in Lagos, Nigeria. He formed his first group Koola Lobitos in 1963. The large jazz, funk, and afrobeat collective underwent many changes in the following deca... Read the full biography on this page.

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