It was inevitable that i would come across the music of fela and i finally did find a copy of his zombie album from 76 on some blog after reading about it in the 1001. Yellow fever, released in 1976, sits right up there with no agreement 1977 and confusion 1975 both in terms of quality of the groove and fela s tact in putting out his message. The legendary flower punk zen variations 2016 we have very talented members here in our little community. According to the tejumola olaniyan biography arrest the music. Zombie is a studio album by nigerian afrobeat musician fela kuti.
Over a decade after his death, vindication has come to fela kuti, africas musical genius. The album was a scathing attack on nigerian soldiers using the zombie. Fela starts the song in underground system by saying he had sang songs for great african men. Fela anikulapo kuti and the africa 70 a zombie b monkey banana everything scatter 78 j. This in many ways is not surprising given that acheampong had overthrown dr. Sorrow tears and blood knitting factory records zombie. Its almost impossible to overstate the impact and importance of fela anikulapo ransome kuti or just. The songs immediate popularity it satirised the military government of the time incurred the wrath of the government, and soldiers destroyed kuti s home.
The blaze gutted the premises, destroying six afrika 70 vehicles, all fela s master tapes and band equipment, a fourtrack recording studio, all the residents belongings and, for good measure, the free medical clinic run by fela s brother, dr beko ransome kuti who was also severely beaten in. It was his biggest hit and with good reason a driving groove, killer horn riffs, politically charged and controversial lyrics, and an incredibly catchy chorus. Download fela kuti expensive shit 2068814 for free, free download fela kuti expensive shit from mediafire file host classic album sundays. Now, im off for a road trip, with fela on cd player. Zombie was released in 1976 by coconut records, and was immediately a success among the people. Zombie has to be one of my favorite albums of fela so far. Most people with an interest in afrobeat would likely agree that the music represents fela and afrika 70 in or near top form, during fela s most admired period of recording. Details the 1977 police attack on the dissident fela s kalakuta compound 14a agege motor rd precipitated by fela s nursing of a street teen beaten some policemen for mouthing off. Fela was born in a welleducated family and studied in england. I got into fela back when i was buying most of my music on cassette. Of all the great fela songs and albums, zombie is the one that must be in every music collection. I remember preaching the gospel of fela kuti, playing his music to anyone whod never heard it. Zombie by fela anikulapo kuti and afrika 70 album, afrobeat.
Kwame nkrumah, whom fela had met as a child through his mother, funmilayo kuti. Afrobeat, his gift to the world, is now an international staple on his own uncompromising terms, social content intact. It is clear to anyone who knows anything about the man and his music. Fela kuti born olufela olusegun oludotun ransome kuti 15 october 1938 2 august 1997 also known as fela anikulapo kuti or simply fela, was a nigerian multiinstrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick. Nigerian singer who was a key figure in the development of afrobeat, blending agitprop lyrics and dance rhythms as a medium for social protest. Fela kuti zombie o, zombie zombie o, zombie zombie o, zombie zombie o, zombie zombie no go go, unless you tell am to go zombie zombie no go stop, unless you tell am to stop zombie. Meanwhile, i can point you to a free mp3 off the new best of the black president deluxe doublecd. It was released in nigeria by coconut records in 1976, and in the united kingdom by creole records in 1976 the album criticised the nigerian government. Download latest fela kuti songs 2020, mp3 music, videos. 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. Fela kuti biography, albums, streaming links allmusic.
Kwame nkrumah, the first president of ghana was for him the greatest of all. However, he inherited the rebellious soul of his mother funmilayo kuti, a teacher and womens rights activist, and the first woman to drive a car in nigeria. While zombie and opposite people are clearly the essential recordings from this period, this disc is. Zombie is the 27th fulllength album by afrobeat pioneer fela kuti.
Fela also took a liking to the ghanaian military head of state, colonel ignatius acheampong. Underground system 1992 by fela kuti, released 18 january 2011 1. Fela is direct and humorous in his attack as he barks out commands to the soldiers like. To give proper weight to the sheer immensity of this experience the making, and remaking of fela. Find fela kuti discography, albums and singles on allmusic. Fela kuti, zombie i can still remember the first time i listened to fela kuti. The song that i chose to analyze was fela kuti s zombie, the title track to his album which was released in 1977 and contains four controversial songs in fela s afrobeat style. Released in 1976, zombie is one of afrobeat firebrand fela kuti s most political musical statements. However, this cd issue features abysmal sound with annoying digital clipping, and for this reason i recommend avoiding it in favor of other editions that feature these tracks. Kuti managed to eat the joint, prompting police to bring him into custody and wait for him to produce the excrement. The infamous title track sparks into life like a ball of fire, with tony allens polyrhythmic drumming and fela s sharp sax playing powering a 12minute jazz and funkinfluenced epic that peaks with a spirited attack on the nigerian governments military tactics. I saw the musical recently, and it fired my desire to have more of his music. To download it, follow this link to giant step, the marketing.
Plenty of musicians profess political and social ideals, but few follow through with the dedication that fela kuti had. Fela kuti and afrika 70 zombie 1976 full album youtube. Zombie 1976 fela kuti from the lp zombie cd release 2001 subscribe. This was a pivotal, political time for pop music, with punk rock emerging in the us and the uk through the ramones and sex pistols, and the golden age of reggaedub hitting fever pitch amidst political strife in. I was recording my old fela albums, army arrangement and black president, from vinyl to cd. Fela kuti complete works boxset limited edition uk 2010 roddus music purchase of the decade. So cool to find this page and more fully understand lyrics i havent heard in 20 years. It was as if miles davis and james brown had somehow been combined into one amazing, flowing, eternal music.
Fela kuti afrobeat monkey banana is another gem in the fela this was the beginning of what was arguably fela s greatest period, and in the next three years he would release more than a dozen albums. Both the song and the album criticize the nigerian government, using the zombie in the. I only discovered the fantastic music of the legendary fela anikulapo kuti within the last 18 months. More fela kuti albums the underground spiritual game. Offers mobile phones tech tech accessories gaming books dvd bluray music vinyl certified refurbished. In 1981 fela changed the groups name for the last time to egypt 80. This album, like all of his other albums, require a lot of patience and stamina and acquired taste, but for those of you who find meaning in jlo, ludacris, or.
The music on this blog is intended to promote artists and labels and eventually to save the sound. Fela and his rebel art and politics, zombie gave the youth of africa a handy concept that dramatized the intellectual shallowness of the military dictatorships rampaging the continent. Zombie was first played by fela kuti and africa 70 at festac festival for black arts and culture in lagos, nigeria in 1977. Fela kuti complete works boxset limited edition uk 2010. The full version of this track runs to around twelve and a half minutes. The best of black president by fela kuti, released 26 january 2010 1. Zed 150 revelations les maitres fous blog dacapo see all 606 lists. The entire mid70s found fela kuti and his afrika 70 really honing in on their signature sound. Zombie was the most popular and impacting record that fela anikulopo kuti and africa 70 would record it ignited the nation to follow fela s lead and antagonize the military zombies that had the population by the throat. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from fela kuti at the discogs marketplace. Recently on the blog pan kisses kafka, rebecca schuman. I am what i am mary brazzle vocal mix aa i am what i am definitive mix download pass is.
1348 241 934 822 1152 1303 832 131 768 1399 940 1315 1142 334 1148 1296 645 1311 383 1557 1111 891 158 509 1460 214 716 699 1337 55 972