Fela Kuti Remembered: 5 Memorable Moments Of A Legend

“When you move around with Fela, you have the impression that, just as he is, you too are immortal,” — John Collins

Born on the 15th of October 1938, Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti was a multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, Pan-Africanist, political activist, and one of Africa’s most charismatic, controversial, and influential artists. He called his music Afrobeat: an inimitable blend of Highlife, Jazz, and Funk; a cacophony of sounds which, in Fela’s case, formed something dense and pulsating with life. Here was music you felt in your spirit, more than heard with your ears; music rife with meaning, prophetic messages, and political dissidence.

Truth be told, the man needs no introduction. And so, without further ado, here are five magical Fela moments, in honor of what would have been his 84th birthday:

Fela Kuti & Afrika ‘70 — Pansa Pansa 

Decked out in a crisp yellow outfit, this is one of the few professionally-shot concerts Fela played with his Afrika ‘70 band. Captured at the Berlin Jazz Fest in 1978, the film itself does a wonderful job of underscoring the drama of this memorable performance; the camera always seems to be at the right place at the right time to capture the spirit of the performers.

Konkombe Interview 

“So as an artist, politically artistically, the whole idea of your environment must be represented in the music, in the arts.”

Captured shortly after his home was burnt to the ground in 1977, Fela (this time surrounded by his numerous wives) talks about an artist’s responsibility to their environment, exuding an almost unflappable energy even in the most chaotic circumstances.

Music Is A Weapon Interview 

Never one to shy away from calling out neocolonial ineptitude and kleptocratic plunder, there’s something distinctly prophetic and troubling about this interview, as Fela speaks about his political aspirations at the time. The video could very well have been shot last week, as not one thing has changed since then.

Fela Kuti & Egypt 80 – Beasts Of No Nation 

The year is 1984 and Fela is performing in Paris. Here, we get a taste of his matchless stage presence and raw energy; his uncanny ability to engage a crowd as he relays his evergreen message: “human rights na my property, therefore, you can’t dash me my property”.

Authority Stealing (Rehearsals)

This behind-the-scenes footage gives us a glimpse of just how particular Fela was about his music and its composition. The video also features revealing snippets from scenes of Lagos and the city’s VIPs (or Vagabonds In Power, as Fela used to call them), which gives even more credence to the lyrics of the song.