HomeBioFela Anikulapo: Early Life, Career, Music, Family, and Death

Fela Anikulapo: Early Life, Career, Music, Family, and Death

Fela Anikulapo Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997).

He is also known as Abami Eda and was a Nigerian musician, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is viewed as the forerunner of Afrobeat, a music genre in Nigeria that joins West African music with American funk and jazz. 

At the pinnacle of his fame, he was described as one of the most “stimulating and charismatic stage performers”. AllMusic tagged him as a musical and sociopolitical voice of international importance.

Fela was the son of Nigerian women’s rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. Following his early life abroad, he gained fame in Nigeria during the 1970s with his band “Africa 70”, which included Tony Allen as the drummer and musical director.

He used his platform during this period to criticize the military regimes in Nigeria, expressing his strong opinions. 

In 1970, he established the Kalakuta Republic group home, which affirmed itself sovereign from military rule. The group home was dismantled in a 1978 raid. He was put in prison by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government in 1984 but got released after 20 months.

He consistently recorded and performed through the 1980s and 1990s. Even after his death in 1997, his son, Femi Kuti, has watched re-releases and collections of his music.

Early life and career of Fela Anikulapo

Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti was born into the Ransome Kuti household, a middle-class Nigerian family. He was born On the 15th of October 1938 in Abeokuta (the new-day capital of Ogun State), which was a city in the British Colony of Nigeria at that time.

Fela’s mother, Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was an advocate of anti-colonialism and gender equality, while his father, Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, served as an Anglican minister, school principal, and the inaugural president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers.

Fela attended Abeokuta Grammar School before being sent to London in 1958 to pursue a degree in medicine. Instead, he chose to study music at Trinity College of Music, where he developed a passion for the trumpet. During his time there, he formed the band Koola Lobitos, which blended jazz and highlife music elements.

Fela wed his first wife, Remilekun (Remi) Taylor, in 1960, and together, they had three children (Femi, Yemi, and Sola). He returned to the newly independent Federation of Nigeria in 1963.

Fela Anikulapo refashioned Koola Lobitos and was skilled as a radio producer for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. He played for some time with Victor Olaiya and his All-Stars.

Fela Anikulapo’s Music

Fela Anikulapo’s style of music is called Afrobeat. It is a genre he mostly began and is an intricate blend of jazz, funk, highlife, and local Nigerian African tunes and rhythms. It has origins of intoxicating soul and has a likeness to James Brown‘s music.

Afrobeat also copies highly from the local “tinker pan”.Tony Allen, Fela’s drummer of twenty years, was crucial in the making of Afrobeat. Kuti once said, “there would be no Afrobeat without Tony Allen”.

Fela Anikulapo
Fela Anikulapo performing on stage

Fela’s band was famous for having two baritone saxophones when a lot of groups only used one. This is a usual method in African and African-inclined musical genres; you can see it in funk and hip-hop. He, alongside his bands, sometimes operated with two bassists at the same time. They both played meshing tunes and rhythms.

There were constantly two or more guitarists. The electronic West African style guitar in Afrobeat bands is an important part of the sound. And it is used to give elementary construct, playing repeating chordal/melodic tunes, riffs, or grooves.

Some parts often present in Kuti’s music are the call and answer inside the chorus and symbolic but simple lyrics. His songs were also really long, at least 15–20 minutes in extent, and a lot of them reached 20 or 30 minutes.

While some tracks that were not released would span up to 45 minutes when performed live. Their span was one of the reasons that his music never got to a large degree of fame outside Africa. His LP records continuously had one 30-minute track per side.

Being an Activist

Fela Anikulapo was significantly involved in political activism in Africa from the 1970s until he passed away. He was against the corruption of Nigerian government officers and the oppression of Nigerian citizens. He talked about colonialism as the root of the financial and political problems that troubled the African people.

Corruption was one of the nastiest political problems Africa was going through in the 1970s, and Nigeria was one of the most corrupt countries. Elections were rigged by the government and executed coups that eventually deteriorated poverty, financial inequality, unemployment, and political uncertainty.

All of these encouraged corruption and crime. Fela’s protest songs masked melodies stirred by the truths of corruption and socio-financial imbalance in Africa. Fela’s political utterances could be heard across Africa.

His open utterance of the violent and unfair regime governing Nigeria did not come without importance. He was arrested over 200 varied times and was in jail. This includes his longest stay of 20 months after he was arrested in 1984.

Asides from going to jail, the corrupt government ordered soldiers to beat Fela, his family and friends, and damage wherever he lived and whatever instruments or songs he had.

In the 1970s, Fela started to operate blunt political features in the advertising space of daily and weekly newspapers such as The Daily Times and The punch. He avoided editorial restriction in Nigeria’s primarily state-run media.

Printed throughout the 1970s and early 1980s under the title “Chief Priest Say”, these columns were a continuation of Fela’s popular Yabi Sessions. Cognizance-raising word-sound rituals, with himself as chief priest, held at his Lagos nightclub.

It was arranged around a forcefully Afrocentric translation of history and the core of black beauty, “Chief Priest Say,” fixated on the role of cultural supremacy in the steady suppression of Africans.

Views on Politics

Fela Anikulapo’s lyrics showed him what he was thinking inside. His elevation in fame throughout the 1970s marked a change in the connection between music as a form of art and Nigerian socio-political talk. In 1984, he criticized and abused the strict then-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.

“Beast of No Nation”, one of his most famous songs, talked about Buhari as an “animal in a madman’s body”; in Nigerian Pidgin. Fela strongly had faith in Africa and always lectured peace among its people.

He believed the most crucial way for them to fight European cultural colonialism was to aid conventional religions and the way of life on their continent. 

The American Black Power movement also swayed Fela’s political views; he supported Pan-Africanism and socialism and asked for a united, democratic African republic.

Showmanship

Fela Anikulapo was recognized for his showmanship, and his concerts were mostly bizarre and rough. He referred to his stage act as the “Underground Spiritual Game”. A lot of people wanted him to perform shows like those in the Western world. But in the 1980s, he didn’t want to put on a “show”.

His performance in Europe was a symbol of what was important at the time and his other muses. He attempted to make a movie but lost all the stuff to the fire set to his house by the military government in power. He believed that art and his own music should have political meaning.

Fela Anikulapo’s concerts also continuously included female singers and dancers, later labelled as “Queens.” The Queens were women who helped inspire the spread of his music. They were clothed brightly and put on makeup all over their bodies, showing their optical ingenuity.

The singers of the group played a substitute role for Fela, usually rumbling his words or buzzing along. The dancers would put on a show in a sensual manner. This started to spark an argument due to the nature of their connection with Fela’s political tone, along with the reality that a lot of the women were young.

Fela’s Death

On 3 August 1997, Fela’s brother Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, who was already a well-known AIDS activist and former Minister of Health, made it known that Fela had passed away on the previous day from hitches linked to AIDS.

Fela Anikulapo had been an AIDS denialist, and his wife upheld that he did not die of AIDS. His youngest son Seun stepped up to the role of leading Kuti’s former band, Egypt 80. As of 2022, the band is still active, releasing music under the moniker Seun Kuti & Egypt 80.

List of Fela Anikulapo Songs

  • 1970 – Fela Ransome-Kuti And His Africa ’70; made by EMI Nigeria Ltd – His Master’s Voice
  • 1971 – Fela’s London Scene; tracks: “FEHIN FEHIN Chop Teeth-Chop Teeth” / “Egbe Mi O (Carry Me)” / “Who’re You” / “Buy Africa” / “Fight To Finish”; released by Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1971 – Why Black Man Dey Suffer; tracks: “Why Black Man Dey Suffer” / “Ikoyi Mentality Versus Mushin Mentality”; released by Wrasse/MCA Universal/Knitting Factory Records
  • 1971 – Live!; tracks: “Let’s Start” / “Black Man’s Cry” / “Ye Ye De Smell” / “Egde Mi O (Carry Me I Want To Die)”; the 2001 CD release adds “Ginger Baker & Tony Allen Drum Solo (Live at the 1978 Berlin Jazz Festival” as a bonus track; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1972 – Stratavarious; tracks: Fela and various band members are on the tracks “Ariwo” / “Iiwa (It’s Our Own)” / “Something Nice” / “Ju Ju” only; released by Polydor Records with Ginger Baker
  • 1972 – Na Poi (Part 1&2); tracks: “Na Poi (Part 1&2)” / “You No Go Die…Unless”; paired with Yellow Fever on the 1997 CD release; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1972 – Open & Close; tracks: “Open & Close” / “Swegbe And Pako” / “Gbagada Gbagada”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1972 – Shakara; tracks: “Lady” / “Shakara (Oloje)”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1972 – Roforofo Fight: Music of Fela; tracks: “Roforofo Fight” / “Go Slow”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1972 – Question Jam Answer: Music of Fela Vol. 2; tracks: “Question Jam Answer” / “Trouble Sleep Yanga Wahe Am” / “Shenshema” / “Ariya”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1973 – Afrodisiac; tracks: “Alu Jon Jonki” / “Jeun Ko Ku (Chop & Quench)” / “Eko ille” / “Je’Nmi Temi (Don’t Gag Me)”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1973 – Gentleman; tracks: “Gentleman” / “FEFE NAA EFE” / “IGBE”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1974 – Alagbon Close; tracks: “Alagbon Close” / “I No Get Eye For Back”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1975 – Noise for Vendor Mouth; tracks: “Noise for Vendor Mouth” / “Mattress”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1975 – Confusion; tracks: “Confusion Part 1&2”; released by Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal

More of His Beautiful Tunes by Fela

  • 1975    “Everything Scatter”     b/w “Who No Know Go Know” Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1975    He Miss Road  b/w “Monday Morning in Lagos” / “It’s No Possible”     Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1975    Expensive Shit b/w “Water No Get Enemy”      Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1976    Unnecessary Begging  b/w “No Buredi (No Bread)”      EMI Nigeria/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1976    Kalakuta Show b/w “Don’t Make Garan Garan”; paired with Ikoyi Blindness on the 2001 CD    Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1976    Upside Down   b/w “Go Slow”  Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1976    Ikoyi Blindness b/w “Gba Mi Leti Ki N’Dolowo (Slap Me Make I Get Money)”; paired with Kalakuta Show on the 2001 CD     Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1976    Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana   b/w “Sense Wiseness” Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1976    Excuse O         b/w “Mr Grammarticalogylisationalism Is The Boss”    Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1976    Zombie b/w “Mister Follow Follow”; the 2001 MCA Universal CD release adds two previously unreleased cuts, “Observation Is No Crime” & “Mistake” (Live at the Berlin Jazz Festival-1978)    Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1976    Yellow Fever/Na Poi    1997 CD includes: “Yellow Fever” / “Na Poi (1975 version)” / “Na Poi (Parts 1&2)” / “You No Go Die…Unless”        Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1977    Opposite People          b/w “Equalisation of Trouser And Pant”            Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1977    Fear Not For Man         b/w “Palm Wine Sound [Instrumental]” Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal
  • 1977    Stalemate         b/w “Don’t Worry About My Mouth O (African Message)”         Barclay Records/Wrasse/MCA Universal

In 2022, Fela was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. In 2023, Fela was ranked Rolling Stone number 188 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. And this just continued to attest to his greatness.

FAQs on Fela Anikulapo

What led to the death of Fela Kuti?

Fela was jailed again in 1993 for murder, but the charges were eventually dropped. He died as a result of complications from AIDS.

How old is Fela when he died?

He was 58 years old

How many times Fela jailed?

Kuti’s open vocalization of the violent and oppressive regime controlling Nigeria did not come without consequence. Therefore, he was arrested on over 200 different occasions and spent time in jail, including his longest stint of 20 months after his arrest in 1984.

Why did Fela divorce all his wives?

After the marriage, Fela took his 27 wives to Ghana for a honeymoon. However, in 1986, shortly after his release from prison, Fela Kuti divorced his 27 wives on the claim that marriage brings jealousy.

Did Fela ever wear pants on stage?

Fela never wore underpants on stage, only donning the look while at home. This was a bit too intense and out of subject for us to be a good tribute.

Where is Fela buried?

Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician, composer and political activist who invented Afrobeat, is buried in the Kalakuta Cemetery in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

How many wives did Fela have?

The iconic Afrobeat singer later married 27 different women in a traditional ceremony in 1978. Many of the women he married were dancers, composers, and singers who were working with him.