v.i.p. (vagabonds in power): FELA!

janeharr — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:14:55 +0000

Ohmy, just listened to a GREAT Fela Kuti program on KCR (NYC). Just what the doctor ordered. I am thankful, personally, and on behalf of all humans, for PEOPLE LIKE KELA FUTI ! If you want to start a revolution, play Fela Kuti records! (I know the idea of listening to albums in the “concept” sense is largely outmoded. People rely on DJs and machines to tell them what to listen to, and don’t care if they know who it is they’re listening to, let alone anything about them. And I guess when anybody can record a song thats to be expected. The necessary filters. Still, its a shame. Immersion allows one to connect personally, and to really enter the music. Listening to a long piece or a full record, there’s a magic that unwinds and builds on itself that’s transporting. I BELIEVE IN THE CONCEPT ALBUM, lolz)

When the DJ played Zombie, it just blew me away. Again. Its been years since I’ve listened to it, and its as powerful as ever. #FIERCE. A warrior-poet on a mission. He also played Coffin for Head of State, which is more of a eulogy, written after Fela’s mother was murdered: “In 1977, the government of Nigeria had enough of Fela Kuti and decided to take evasive action on his walled-in residence that he called the Kalakuta Republic (Fela declared it a separate state). Over a thousand soldiers descended on the compound and savagely beat the residents. Fela himself escaped death (but not incarceration), but his activist mother was thrown through a window and broke her hip — causing an injury that would take her life within that month.” (allmusic.com)

There is much to discover on Youtube and elsewhere including a documentary, but this recording of a live show he did in 1978 was a great find. As good a way as any to start on a Fela journey. There are some very intense moments as Fela addresses his audience of Berliners stiffly seated in their theater chairs. Its fascinating and inspiring to see Fela handle that venue. As it is in the copmpletly different scenario in this clip from a club in Calabar after a rain storm. I would’ve gladly attended both (though to not dance would’ve been VERY hard). Either way, we need more FELA ENERGY IN THIS WORLD! Warrior-poets on a mission. I’m going to celebrate one every Thanksgiving — that’s worthy of a feast. As one commentator wrote:

Osa Joseph
3 weeks ago

Am so sad everything he stood and fought for is still going on in almost every part of Africa, Nigeria’s latest generation of musicians are busy singing about Blings, Hoes and fast cars why their country is being ruined by Vagabonds in power. Thank you baba for all you did when you were alive.I cried after watching this Video, wished death never existed. You where a true pioneer , a true political activist and the voice of the poor, oppressed and home to the homeless. Fela Kuti was a good man.