Fela Read online

  As much as Fela was a man of principle, he was a man of contradiction. His lasting appeal is in the sum of all the parts. He was a composer, a protest singer, and a multi-instrumentalist—a visionary musician rather than a technical virtuoso. He was a rebel and a revolutionary and, at the same time, a kind of shaman. The infectious groove of his compositions is accompanied by razor-sharp social commentary, the shifts of gear and mood changes of each track sometimes extending for as long as thirty minutes. As the revolutionary philosopher and psychiatrist Frantz Fanon did long before him, Fela identified the ills afflicting postindependence Africa, saw that the new elites were not going to be the emancipators. In “Colonial Mentality” he accused:

  You don be slave from before,

  Dem don release you now

  But you never release yourself.

  In composition after composition, Fela mounted a sustained challenge to neocolonialism and was unafraid to name names when condemning the specific failings of those in authority in Nigeria. Little wonder that he was rewarded with their opprobrium. But that violent hostility of the ruling elite was the price Fela accepted he must pay for advocating people power.

  “Fela loved to buck the system,” his relative Wole Soyinka recognized. “His music, to many, was both salvation and echo of their anguish, frustrations and suppressed aggression. The black race was the beginning and end of knowledge and wisdom, his life mission, to effect a mental and physical liberation of the race.”4

  Fela: This Bitch of a Life is unique in being able to give us some truly remarkable insights into an acknowledged creative genius for whom even superlatives can seem inadequate.

  Notes

  1. Wole Soyinka, You Must Set Forth at Dawn: A Memoir (London: Methuen, in association with Bookcraft, 2007), 35.

  2. Activism and public service are a Ransome-Kuti family hallmark. Fela’s brothers were both respected doctors: Beko (1940–2006) helped form Nigeria’s first human rights organization and in the 1990s was sentenced to life imprisonment at a military tribunal; Koye (1927–2003) was professor of pediatrics at the University of Lagos and deputy director general of the World Health Organization. Their indefatigable sister Yemisi is a patron of the arts and currently executive director of the Nigeria Network of Non-Government Organisations.

  3. Quoted in Peter Culshaw, “The Big Fela,” The Observer (August 15, 2004).

  4. Soyinka, You Must Set Forth, 33.

  Discography

  Discography of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti

  1960s

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Highlife Rakers

  “Aigana” b/w “Fela’s Special” (7” UK, Melodisc 1532)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Highlife Rakers

  “Highlife Rakers Calypso No.l” b/w “Wa Ba Mi Jo Bosue” (7” UK, Melodisc unissued)

  The Highlife Jazz Band

  “Onifere” (7” Nigeria, Phillips)

  The Highlife Jazz Band

  “Yeshe Yeshe” (7” Nigeria, Phillips)

  The Highlife Jazz Band

  “Mr. Who Are You” (7” Nigeria, Phillips)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Bonfo” b/w “Fere” (7” Nigeria, RK label RK1)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Onifere No. 2” b/w “Oyejo” (7” Nigeria, RK label RK4)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Oloruka” b/w “Awo” (7” Nigeria, RK label RK5)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti Quintet

  “Great Kids” b/w “Amaechi’s Blues” (7” Nigeria, Phillips West Africa Records 382734 PF [PF 734])

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Yese” b/w “Egbin” (7” Nigeria, Parlophone NPJ420—7XNPS1399/1400)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Ololufe” b/w “Araba’s Delight” (7” Nigeria, Parlophone NPJ513—7XNPS1573/1574)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Wadele” (or “Wa Dele”) b/w “Laise” (7” Nigeria, Parlophone NPJ514—7XNPS1575/1576)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Omuti Ti Se” (7” Nigeria)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Koola Lobitos (1965, LP Nigeria, EMI PNL 1002)

  [A] “Signature Tune” / “It’s Highlife Time” / “Lagos Baby” / “Omuti” / “Ololufe” / “Araba’s Delight”

  [B] “Wa Dele” / “Lai Se” / “Mi O Mo” / “Obinrin Le” / “Omo Ejo”

  Koola Lobitos featuring VC 7

  “Orise” b/w “Eke” (7” Nigeria, Parlophone NPJ533—7XNPS1613/1614)

  Koola Lobitos featuring VC 7

  “V. C. 7” b/w “I Know Your Feeling” (7” Nigeria, Parlophone NPJ534—7XNPS1615/1616)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti Quintet Title Unknown (LP Nigeria)

  [A] “Great Kids” / “Lagos Baby” / “Lai Se” / “Wa Dele”

  [B] “Mi O Mo” / “Ajo” / “Iya Mi Oshe O!” / “Araba’s Delight”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti plays with The Koola Lobitos

  “Mi O Fe” b/w “Fine, Fine Baby” (7” Nigeria, Parlophone PNE101)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti plays with The Koola Lobitos

  “Die Die” b/w “Kusimilaya” (7” Nigeria, Parlophone PNE102)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Fire” b/w “Oni Machini” (7” Nigeria, Parlophone PNE103)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos Title Unknown (LP Nigeria)

  [A] “Ololufe” / “Ayawa Ni” / “Onidodo” / “Yese” / “Araba’s Delight”

  [B] “Abiara” / “Onijibiti” / “Madele” / “Orun” / “Ojo”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos Afro Beat on Stage: Recorded Live at the Afro Spot (10” LP Nigeria, Phillips/Polydor PLP001)

  [A] “Everyday I Got My Blues” / “Moti Gborokan” / “Waka Waka”

  [B] “Ako” / “Ororuka” / “Lai Se”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Onidodo” b/w “Alagbara” (7” Nigeria, Phillips West Africa Records PF383 620)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Abiara” b/w “Ajo” (7” Nigeria, Phillips West Africa Records PF383 622)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “Waka Waka” b/w “Se E Tunde” (7” Nigeria, Phillips West Africa Records PF383 802)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  “My Baby Don Love Me” b/w “Home Cooking” (7” Nigeria, Phillips WA425004)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos

  Voice of America Sessions

  “Ironu” / “Magbe Yenwa” / “Iro” / “Ojo

  (Part 1)” / “Ojo (Part 2)” / “Oyejo” / “Igba L’aiye”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  “Viva Nigeria” b/w “Witchcraft” (1969, 7” Nigeria, The Duke Records DUK-001)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  “Lover” b/w “Wayo” (1969, 7” Nigeria, The Duke Records DUK-002)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  “Ako” b/w “Ladies Frustration” (1969, 7” Nigeria, The Duke Records DUK-005)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Africa 70

  Fela Fela Fela (LP Nigeria, EMI HMV HNLX5033)

  [A] “My Lady’s Frustration” / “Viva Nigeria” / “Obe (Stew)” / “Ako” / “Witchcraft”

  [B] “Wayo” / “Lover” / “Funky Horn” / “Eko” / “This Is Sad”

  1970s

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  Fela’s London Scene (1970, LP Nigeria, EMI HNLX5200; LP USA (1983), Editions Makossa M2399)

  [A] “J’ehin-J’ehin” / “Egbe Mi O”

  [B] “Who’re You” / “Buy Africa” / “Fight to Finish”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  “Blackman’s Cry” b/w “Beautiful Dancer” (1970, 7” Nigeria, EMI HMV HNP526; 7” France, Pathe Marconi 2C006-80777)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  “Jeun K
’oku (Chop & Quench) Part I” b/w “Jeun K’oku (Chop & Quench) Part II” (1971, 7” Nigeria, EMI HMV HNS1016; Ghana, EMI HMV HNS1016; France 1970-1971; Pathe Marconi 2C006-80776)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Africa 70

  “Na Fight-O! (Part 1)” b/w “Na Fight-O!

  (Part 2)” (7” Nigeria, EMI HMV HNS1049)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Africa 70

  “Who’re You? (Part 1)” b/w “Who’re You?

  (Part 2)” (1971, 7” Nigeria, EMI HMV HNS1058; Ghana, EMI HMV HNS1058)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Africa 70

  “Jeun K’oku (Instrumental version, Part 1)” b/w “Jeun K’oku (Instrumental version, Part 2)” (1971, 7” Nigeria, EMI HMV HNS1075)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Africa 70

  “Don’t Gag Me (Part 1”) b/w “Don’t Gag Me (Part 2)” (7” Nigeria, Jon200; Ghana, Jon200)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Why Black Man Dey Suffer (1971, LP Nigeria, African Songs AS0001)

  [A] “Why Black Man Dey Suffer”

  [B] “Ikoyi Mentality Versus Mushin Mentality”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Africa 70

  The Best of Fela (1971, LP Nigeria, EMI HMV HNLX5043)

  [A] “Beautiful Dancer” / “Jeun Ko Ku (Chop and Quench) (Part1& Part 2)” / “Black Man’s Cry”

  [B] “Na Fight O (Part1& Part 2)” / “Who’re You?”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Na Poi (1971, LP Nigeria, EMI HMV HNLX 5070)

  [A] “Na Poi (Part 1)”

  [B] “Na Poi (Part 2)” / “You No Go Die Unless You Wan Die”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  “Alujon-Jon-Ki-Jon (Part 1)” b/w “Alujon-Jon-Ki-Jon (Part 2)” (7” Ghana, HMV HNS1119)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  “Beggar’s Song (Orin Alagbe) (Part 1)” b/w “Beggar’s Song (Orin Alagbe) (Part 2)” (7” Nigeria, HMV HNS1237)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  “Shenshema (Part 1)” b/w “Shenshema (Part 2)” (1971, 7” Nigeria, HMV HNS1299)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  “Monday Morning (Part 1)” b/w “Monday Morning (Part 2)” (7” Nigeria, HMV HNS1322)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Nigeria 70

  “Fogo-Fogo (Part 1)” b/w “Fogo-Fogo (Part 2)” (7” Ghana, HMV HNS1472)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  “Ariya (Part 1)” b/w “Ariya (Part 2)” (7” Nigeria, HMV HNS1531)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  “Going In and Coming Out (Part 1)” b/w “Going In and Coming Out (Part 2)” (7” Nigeria, EMI(s) 062N)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  The Best of Fela Volume 2: Fela’s Budget Special (LP Nigeria, EMI HNLX 5081)

  [A] “Monday Morning in Lagos” / “Shenshema” / “Don’t Gag Me”

  [B] “Beggar’s Song” / “Alu Jon-Jon-Ki-Jon” / “Chop & Quench (Instrumental)”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Open and Close (1971, LP Nigeria, EMI HNLX5090; LP France (1975), Pathe Marconi 062-81957)

  [A] “Open and Close” / “Swegbe and Pako”

  [B] “Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti The Africa 70 (with Ginger Baker)

  Live! (1971, LP UK, Regal Zonophone SLRZ1023)

  [A] “Let’s Start” / “Black Man’s Cry”

  [B] “Ye Ye De Smell” / “Egbe Mi O (Carry Me, I Want to Die)”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Nigeria 70

  “Chop and Quench” b/w “Egbe Mi O” (7” UK, Regal Zonophone RZ3052)

  Ginger Baker with Fela Ransome-Kuti (voice over, keyboard)

  Stratavarious (1972, LP UK, Polydor 2383 133; LP USA, Atco SD7013)

  [A] “Ariwo” / “Tiwa”

  [B] “Something Nice” / “Juju” / “Blood Brothers 69” / “Coda”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Nigeria 70

  “Let’s Start” b/w “Egbe Mi O” (7” France, Pathe Marconi 2C006-80995)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  “Egbe Mi O” b/w “Chop & Quench” (1972, 7” Ghana, Stateside GSS0029)

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Shakara (1972, LP Nigeria, EMI 008N;

  1974, LP USA, Editions Makossa EM2305;

  1974LP France Pathe Marconi 062 82718;

  1975, LP UK, Creole CRLP501)

  [A] “Shakara Oloje”

  [B] “Lady”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Music of Fela / Roforofo Fight (1972, LP Nigeria, Jofabro Nigeria JILP001; 1975, LP USA, Editions Makossa EM2307 and EM2309; 1976, LP France, Pathe Marconi 062-82132/3)

  [A] “Roforofo Fight”

  [B] “Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am

  [C] “Question Jam Answer”

  [D] “Go Slow”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Afrodisiac (1973, LP Nigeria, EMI 062; 1972, LP UK, Regal Zonophone/EMI SLRZ1034; 1975, LP France, Pathe Marconi 062 81290)

  [A] “Alu Jon Jonki Jon” / “Chop and Quench”

  [B] “Eko Ile” / “Je’n Wi Temi”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Gentleman (1973, LP Nigeria, EMI NEMI 0009; 1975, LP France, Pathe Marconi 2C 062 81960; 1979, LP UK, Creole CRLP502; 1983, LP USA, Makossa M2398)

  [A] “Gentleman”

  [B] “Fefe Naa Efe” / “Igbe (Na Shit)”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Alagbon Close (1974, LP Nigeria, Jofabro Nigeria JILP1002; 1975, LP USA, Editions Makossa EM2313; 1976, LP France, Pathe Marconi 062-82135)

  [A] “Alagbon Close”

  [B] “I No Get Eye for Back”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  He Miss Road (1975, LP Nigeria, EMI

  006N; LP France, Pathe Marconi 052 81958; 1984, LP UK, rereleased on Sterns 3008)

  [A] “He Miss Road” / “Monday Morning in Lagos”

  [B] “He No Possible”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Expensive Shit (1975, LP Nigeria, Sound-work Shop SWS1001; LP USA, Editions Makossa EM2315)

  [A] “Expensive Shit”

  [B] “Water No Get Enemy”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Noise for Vendor Mouth (1975, LP Nigeria, Afrobeat ABRO11)

  [A] “Noise for Vendor Mouth”

  [B] “Mattress”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Everything Scatter (1975, LP Nigeria, Coconut PMLP1000; 1976, LP France, Phillips 9286-434; 1977, LP UK, Creole CRLP509)

  [A] “Everything Scatter”

  [B] “Who No Know Go Know”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Confusion (1975, LP Nigeria, EMI NEMI0004; LP France, Pathe Marconi 062-81959)

  [A] “Confusion” (Instrumental)

  [B] “Confusion” (Vocal)

  Tony Allen and The Africa 70

  with Fela Ransome-Kuti (tenor sax, piano, arr., prod.) Jealousy (1975, LP Nigeria, Sound Workshop 1004)

  [A] “Jealousy”

  [B] “Hustler”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Kalakuta Show (LP Nigeria, EMI; LP Nigeria, Kalakuta KR 01; 1976, LP USA, Editions Makossa M2320; 1976, LP France, Pathe Marconi 062-82134)

  [A] “Kalakuta Show”

  [B] “Don’t Meke Garnan Garnan”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa 70

  No Bread (1976, LP Nigeria, Soundwork

  Shop SWS1003; 1982, LP USA, Editions Makossa EM2382)

  [A] “No Bread”

  [B] “Unnecessary Begging”

  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Ikoyi Blindness (1976, LP Nigeria, Africa Music AMILP001)

  [A] “Ikoyi Blindness”

  [B] “Gba Mi Leti Ki N’dolowo”

  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Yellow Fever (1976, LP Nigeria, Decca Afrodisi
a DWAPS2004)

  [A] “Yellow Fever”

  [B] “Napoi 75”

  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Upside Down (1976, LP Nigeria, Decca Afrodisia DWAPS2005; 1985, LP USA, Celluloid CELL 6123; 1990, CD USA, CELD6123)

  [A] “Upside Down”

  [B] “Go Slow”

  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana (1976, LP Nigeria, Coconut PMLP1001)

  [A] “Monkey Banana”

  [B] “Sense Wiseness”

  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Again, Excuse O (1976, LP Nigeria, Coconut PMLP1002)

  [A] “Excuse-O”

  [B] “Mr Grammatology-Lisationalism Is the Boss”

  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Zombie (1976, LP Nigeria, Coconut PMLP1003; 1977, LP UK, Creole CRLP511)

  [A] “Zombie”

  [B] “Mr Follow Follow”

  Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and The Africa 70

  Zombie (1977, LP USA; Mercury SRM-1-3709)

  [A] “Zombie”

  [B] “Monkey Banana” / “Everything Scatter”

  Fela Ransome-Kuti

  Fela Ransome-Kuti Vol. 1 & 2 (1977, LP France; EMI/Pathe Marconi 2C 15983/4)

  [A] “Shakara (Oloje)” / “Chop & Quench”

  [B] “Let’s Start” / “Black Man’s Cry

  [C] “Lady” / “Je’nwi Temi (Don’t Gag Me)”

  [D] “Alu Jo Jonki Jon” / “Egbe Mi O (Carry Me I Want to Die)”

  The Basa-Basa Soundz

  The Basa-Basa Soundz (1976, LP Nigeria, Decca Afrodisia DWAPS 2016)

  [A] “Dr Solotsu” / “Nye Tao Ame” / “Tinapa Minana” / “Aziza”

  [B] “Lakuma” / “Yayaa” / “Nature” / “Amal”