Lester bowie fela kuti biography
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“Death is a beautiful thing. . . . inom know that when inom die inom will see my mother. So, death doesn’t worry me, man! I want to die. I will do my part. . . . Then I’ll just go, man. Just go.”
— Fela Anikulapo Kuti, from the book “Fela Fela” bygd Carlos Moore
The AIDS-related death earlier this month of Africa’s most influential musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, 58, silenced one of that continent’s most outspoken political dissidents. Proclaiming music as a weapon, Fela attacked tyranny, oppression and injustice while prophesying a Utopian vision of African unity.
His rebellious energy and transcendent music generated a stridbar, worshipful following, especially among the ung, poor and alienated – the Afrobeat generation.
Following his Aug. 2 death, thousands gathered around his house and nightclub in Lagos to bid farewell to the African legend known as “Black President,” “Chief Priest” and “Baba&rd
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Fela Kuti facts for kids
"Fela" redirects here. For the Broadway musical based on his life, see Fela!.
Quick facts for kids Fela Kuti | |
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Kuti in 1970 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti |
| Born | (1938-10-15)15 October 1938 Abeokuta, British Nigeria |
| Died | 2 August 1997(1997-08-02) (aged 58) Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
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| Years active | 1958–1997 |
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Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the pioneer of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre that combines West African music with American funk and jazz. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most
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Lester Bowie: ‘Jazz Is Great Black Music’
YOU can’t take it away from Lester Bowie. No, you simply cannot: the fact that he is arguably the greatest and most influential jazz trumpeter and musician since Miles Davis. All through the nineties, Bowie was the pivot and inspirer of the new ‘Black Music,’ realising a revolutionary dream he began in the 60s. His death may have slowed down the pace of development; but the beat goes on! His memory lingers!
“What we are trying to do today by the term ‘Great Black Music’ is to put emphasis on the quality of music that black people have created in this world,” explained Lester Bowie in an interview with Glendora Review. “I mean this music is so great that each one of its sub divisions has influenced the whole world … rock’n roll, blues, jazz, gospel, each one is a division of this music but actually all coming from the same thing,” Explaining the role and essence of jazz in this whole experiment, he said, “the thing about jazz is that