4 ms·

Fela Kuti First African to Get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award

177 points by defrost 9mo ago

e40 9mo ago
It’s sad that we don’t have recordings of his work, and all we really have are people’s recollections of him.
- churchill 9mo ago
  [dead]
- defrost 9mo ago
  There are recordings, and video of some his live performances. Lemi Ghariokwu, a renowned Nigerian artist and the designer behind 26 of Fela’s iconic album covers, says the fact that this is the first time an African musician gets this honour “just shows that whatever we as Africans need to do, we need to do it five times more.” Fela Kuti & Africa 70 (Berlin 1978): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8oRpA2SpE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8oRpA2SpE What withered a little on the vine was his philosophy of pan-africanism. > all we really have are people’s recollections of him. His children, former band members (he had big ensembles) are still performing his compositions and in his style. eg: Seun Kuti performing a Fela Kuti number along with Newen Afrobeat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFSRCG4DrmI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFSRCG4DrmI He's still relevant today, he dedicated an entire album to faceless armed thugs operating as state sponsered death squads. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(album) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(album) The album was a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military. The album was a smash hit with the people and infuriated the government, setting off a vicious attack against the Kalakuta Republic (a commune that Kuti had established in Nigeria), during which one thousand soldiers attacked the commune. * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5x6pbJMyU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5x6pbJMyU
  - e40 9mo ago
    I appreciate the reply. On a podcast recently and they talked a lot about his influence, but didn't play any music. And, when I went to look for it on YT, I didn't find the items you referenced. Thanks!
    - echelon_musk 9mo ago
      The film that is most mined for recordings is 'Fela Kuti - Music is the Weapon'. There's an English cut and a French cut. The French cut doesn't hide the cannabis use and you'll see people rolling spliffs and Fela taking his 'Fela Gold' 'medicine' which was something like a cannabis rosin.
    - BigTTYGothGF 9mo ago
      > And, when I went to look for it on YT, I didn't find the items you referenced What exactly were you looking for and how did you miss: https://www.youtube.com/@felakuti https://www.youtube.com/@felakuti
  - localbolu 9mo ago
    Scrolled just to see if someone had mentioned the Newen Afrobeat + Seun Kuti session -- just an absolute masterclass.
- viccis 9mo ago
  Good news, you can search him on Spotify or Youtube and get tons of recordings of him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti_discography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti_discography
- notesinthefield 9mo ago
  I dont know if youre referring to his music as "his work" - quite the opposite, we have a lot! His family recently began releasing many albums on Bandcamp. Ive been a fan for awhile and this is likely the best collection youll find online : https://felakuti.bandcamp.com/ https://felakuti.bandcamp.com/ The Best of the Black President is a good place to start. Dive in! Fela is the godfather of Afrobeat and highlife.
- BigTTYGothGF 9mo ago
  > It’s sad that we don’t have recordings of his work I am literally, while typing this reply, listening to a recording of Fela Kuti right now that I ripped myself from a CD I bought maybe 15 years ago at a physical record store. ("International Thief Thief" off of "Original Suffer Head")
evolve2k 9mo ago
I recommend this excellent podcast (episode) that is dedicated to going over his life and impact. Incredible person and story! https://pca.st/episode/e2940e8b-c7da-43bd-abca-8750538acf7c https://pca.st/episode/e2940e8b-c7da-43bd-abca-8750538acf7c
- echelon_musk 9mo ago
  It's very good, but in the end I was disappointed with how uncritical it was. I bought the vinyl reissue of The Best of the Black President. I think it was a mistake that Fela's cousin's criticisms were only briefly mentioned. As well as leaving Seun Keuti unchecked after screaming "bitch, get me a pen!". I also found it funny that they used Barack Obama's name in the marketing release but you only ever hear about ~30 seconds from him!
- unspecified 9mo ago
  There was also a Strong Songs episode about Fela Kuti back in November 2025: https://strongsongspodcast.com/blogs/episodes/s07-bonus-the-fearless-fela-kuti-with-jad-abumrad https://strongsongspodcast.com/blogs/episodes/s07-bonus-the-...
tinktank 9mo ago
Can't say I'm surprised. Well deserved!
thaack 9mo ago
Afrobeat (of which Fela Kuti pioneered) and Afro-rock are genuinely some of the coolest fusion genres to ever exist. If you need an introduction, the Nigeria 70 compilation is a great place to start: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upN0WEbFmUY&list=OLAK5uy_nQZBBWRCVB4V8IH9wF6GZ4p4kmn0mEcok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upN0WEbFmUY&list=OLAK5uy_nQZ...
- draw_down 9mo ago
  If I may suggest two artists besides the great Fela Kuti: William Onyeabor (try "Tomorrow") and Dizzy K Falola (try "Sweet Music").
  - deleted 9mo ago
    [deleted]
  - thaack 9mo ago
    William Onyeabor got me into African fusion. He's definitely one of the most interesting characters on the scene and the synthesizers in his music were some of the best. RIP.
- photon_garden 9mo ago
  King Sunny Ade is another great Nigerian artist! Ja Funmi is one of my favorites: https://youtu.be/LIO9MjfOo48?si=bZFOTgQF0SZZgT_X https://youtu.be/LIO9MjfOo48?si=bZFOTgQF0SZZgT_X Africa has a ton of fantastic musicians. For instance, Dur Dur Band from Somalia: https://youtu.be/cVfrEmO5no4?si=aeqeufJpsKiIyvQX https://youtu.be/cVfrEmO5no4?si=aeqeufJpsKiIyvQX Mulatu Astatke from Ethiopia: https://youtu.be/jXdVpT_aSJU?si=jMzwDIS75L9pqhxf https://youtu.be/jXdVpT_aSJU?si=jMzwDIS75L9pqhxf John Wizards from South Africa: https://youtu.be/1FNWfhmTn1M?si=lmHOUgvqxYS_P_Av https://youtu.be/1FNWfhmTn1M?si=lmHOUgvqxYS_P_Av It’s a very deep well.
  - toomanyrichies 9mo ago
    I was introduced to Mulatu Astatke's music from Jim Jarmusch's "Broken Flowers" soundtrack. [1] He's now one of my favorite African musicians. 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulnyGZ4d3Y&list=PLHrPP0rObViqzauI3czuaonHaFTokm7i4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulnyGZ4d3Y&list=PLHrPP0rObV...
t312227 9mo ago
hello, i discovered fela anikulapo kutis music back in the 2nd half of the 1980ties - still a big fan!! :) cheers, a..z
phr4ts 9mo ago
Fela bled for Nigeria—literally. He carried scars on his back from police and soldier beatings meant to silence him for speaking against the government. His houses and estate were set ablaze. His land was seized by the government and never returned. His mother was thrown off a building by soldiers. Yet, the very people he fought for chose to focus on his vices and mocked him for them. I’m glad he finally got this award.
- spacec0wb0y 9mo ago
  And listen to the recent podcast that speaks of all of this, it's fascinating. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXDQyUD9DD1CDYT https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXD...
loudmax 9mo ago
I can't tell whether the words to Fela Kuti's "Water No Get Enemy" are profound or trite. But I can declare with 100% confidence that this song *rocks*! Go check it out.
- blacksmith_tb 9mo ago
  I think "If water kill your child / Water you go use" is fairly profound, and a good demonstration of the idea that the pidgin expression refers to. And it rocks, of course.
- takinola 9mo ago
  I think the point of the song is inevitability (in the context of African liberation). The idea being that Africa is indispensable to the world and will eventually overcome.
- relaxing 9mo ago
  You owe it to yourself to read up on the message and the circumstances around the song. Simple words, profound metaphor for life during wartime. Then do the flip side of the record (“Expensive Shit”.)
- notesinthefield 9mo ago
  What a profoundly ignorant comment, at least it obvious you didnt try to see who it was you were listening to.
melsmo 9mo ago
Did anyone see Fela, the musical? It was so good. https://felakuti.com/us/legacy/fela-the-musical https://felakuti.com/us/legacy/fela-the-musical?
- TrevorAustin 9mo ago
  I did! One of the best shows I have ever seen. And Ngaujah had to have been the hardest-working man on Broadway during that run. Just an incredible performance.
endorphine 9mo ago
Beasts of no Nation is a personal favorite!
learingsci 9mo ago
Long time coming. All these years later, still heavy in my daily rotation.
josefritzishere 9mo ago
If you are not familiar with Fela Kuti, he's like the James Brown of Afro-Pop. His music is super funky and amazing, and his family history is fascinating. Highly reccomended.
somalihoaxes 9mo ago
[flagged]
mixmastamyk 9mo ago
A local here pointed him out to me about five years ago. I looked him up, and a month later or so found and watched a documentary on Kanopy called "Finding Fela", quite interesting.
discordance 9mo ago
I was totally hooked on the recent podcast by Jad Abumrad - Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, that covers his life, music and political evolution: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXDQyUD9DD1CDYT https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXD...

177 points by defrost 9mo ago

e40 9mo ago

It’s sad that we don’t have recordings of his work, and all we really have are people’s recollections of him.

churchill 9mo ago
[dead]
defrost 9mo ago
There are recordings, and video of some his live performances. Lemi Ghariokwu, a renowned Nigerian artist and the designer behind 26 of Fela’s iconic album covers, says the fact that this is the first time an African musician gets this honour “just shows that whatever we as Africans need to do, we need to do it five times more.” Fela Kuti & Africa 70 (Berlin 1978): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8oRpA2SpE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8oRpA2SpE What withered a little on the vine was his philosophy of pan-africanism. > all we really have are people’s recollections of him. His children, former band members (he had big ensembles) are still performing his compositions and in his style. eg: Seun Kuti performing a Fela Kuti number along with Newen Afrobeat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFSRCG4DrmI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFSRCG4DrmI He's still relevant today, he dedicated an entire album to faceless armed thugs operating as state sponsered death squads. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(album) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(album) The album was a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military. The album was a smash hit with the people and infuriated the government, setting off a vicious attack against the Kalakuta Republic (a commune that Kuti had established in Nigeria), during which one thousand soldiers attacked the commune. * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5x6pbJMyU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5x6pbJMyU
- e40 9mo ago
  I appreciate the reply. On a podcast recently and they talked a lot about his influence, but didn't play any music. And, when I went to look for it on YT, I didn't find the items you referenced. Thanks!
  - echelon_musk 9mo ago
    The film that is most mined for recordings is 'Fela Kuti - Music is the Weapon'. There's an English cut and a French cut. The French cut doesn't hide the cannabis use and you'll see people rolling spliffs and Fela taking his 'Fela Gold' 'medicine' which was something like a cannabis rosin.
  - BigTTYGothGF 9mo ago
    > And, when I went to look for it on YT, I didn't find the items you referenced What exactly were you looking for and how did you miss: https://www.youtube.com/@felakuti https://www.youtube.com/@felakuti
- localbolu 9mo ago
  Scrolled just to see if someone had mentioned the Newen Afrobeat + Seun Kuti session -- just an absolute masterclass.
viccis 9mo ago
Good news, you can search him on Spotify or Youtube and get tons of recordings of him. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti_discography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti_discography
notesinthefield 9mo ago
I dont know if youre referring to his music as "his work" - quite the opposite, we have a lot! His family recently began releasing many albums on Bandcamp. Ive been a fan for awhile and this is likely the best collection youll find online : https://felakuti.bandcamp.com/ https://felakuti.bandcamp.com/ The Best of the Black President is a good place to start. Dive in! Fela is the godfather of Afrobeat and highlife.
BigTTYGothGF 9mo ago
> It’s sad that we don’t have recordings of his work I am literally, while typing this reply, listening to a recording of Fela Kuti right now that I ripped myself from a CD I bought maybe 15 years ago at a physical record store. ("International Thief Thief" off of "Original Suffer Head")

evolve2k 9mo ago

I recommend this excellent podcast (episode) that is dedicated to going over his life and impact. Incredible person and story! https://pca.st/episode/e2940e8b-c7da-43bd-abca-8750538acf7c https://pca.st/episode/e2940e8b-c7da-43bd-abca-8750538acf7c

echelon_musk 9mo ago
It's very good, but in the end I was disappointed with how uncritical it was. I bought the vinyl reissue of The Best of the Black President. I think it was a mistake that Fela's cousin's criticisms were only briefly mentioned. As well as leaving Seun Keuti unchecked after screaming "bitch, get me a pen!". I also found it funny that they used Barack Obama's name in the marketing release but you only ever hear about ~30 seconds from him!
unspecified 9mo ago
There was also a Strong Songs episode about Fela Kuti back in November 2025: https://strongsongspodcast.com/blogs/episodes/s07-bonus-the-fearless-fela-kuti-with-jad-abumrad https://strongsongspodcast.com/blogs/episodes/s07-bonus-the-...

tinktank 9mo ago

Can't say I'm surprised. Well deserved!

thaack 9mo ago

Afrobeat (of which Fela Kuti pioneered) and Afro-rock are genuinely some of the coolest fusion genres to ever exist. If you need an introduction, the Nigeria 70 compilation is a great place to start: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upN0WEbFmUY&list=OLAK5uy_nQZBBWRCVB4V8IH9wF6GZ4p4kmn0mEcok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upN0WEbFmUY&list=OLAK5uy_nQZ...

draw_down 9mo ago
If I may suggest two artists besides the great Fela Kuti: William Onyeabor (try "Tomorrow") and Dizzy K Falola (try "Sweet Music").
- deleted 9mo ago
  [deleted]
- thaack 9mo ago
  William Onyeabor got me into African fusion. He's definitely one of the most interesting characters on the scene and the synthesizers in his music were some of the best. RIP.
photon_garden 9mo ago
King Sunny Ade is another great Nigerian artist! Ja Funmi is one of my favorites: https://youtu.be/LIO9MjfOo48?si=bZFOTgQF0SZZgT_X https://youtu.be/LIO9MjfOo48?si=bZFOTgQF0SZZgT_X Africa has a ton of fantastic musicians. For instance, Dur Dur Band from Somalia: https://youtu.be/cVfrEmO5no4?si=aeqeufJpsKiIyvQX https://youtu.be/cVfrEmO5no4?si=aeqeufJpsKiIyvQX Mulatu Astatke from Ethiopia: https://youtu.be/jXdVpT_aSJU?si=jMzwDIS75L9pqhxf https://youtu.be/jXdVpT_aSJU?si=jMzwDIS75L9pqhxf John Wizards from South Africa: https://youtu.be/1FNWfhmTn1M?si=lmHOUgvqxYS_P_Av https://youtu.be/1FNWfhmTn1M?si=lmHOUgvqxYS_P_Av It’s a very deep well.
- toomanyrichies 9mo ago
  I was introduced to Mulatu Astatke's music from Jim Jarmusch's "Broken Flowers" soundtrack. [1] He's now one of my favorite African musicians. 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulnyGZ4d3Y&list=PLHrPP0rObViqzauI3czuaonHaFTokm7i4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulnyGZ4d3Y&list=PLHrPP0rObV...

t312227 9mo ago

hello, i discovered fela anikulapo kutis music back in the 2nd half of the 1980ties - still a big fan!! :) cheers, a..z

phr4ts 9mo ago

Fela bled for Nigeria—literally. He carried scars on his back from police and soldier beatings meant to silence him for speaking against the government. His houses and estate were set ablaze. His land was seized by the government and never returned. His mother was thrown off a building by soldiers. Yet, the very people he fought for chose to focus on his vices and mocked him for them. I’m glad he finally got this award.

spacec0wb0y 9mo ago
And listen to the recent podcast that speaks of all of this, it's fascinating. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXDQyUD9DD1CDYT https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXD...

loudmax 9mo ago

I can't tell whether the words to Fela Kuti's "Water No Get Enemy" are profound or trite. But I can declare with 100% confidence that this song *rocks*! Go check it out.

blacksmith_tb 9mo ago
I think "If water kill your child / Water you go use" is fairly profound, and a good demonstration of the idea that the pidgin expression refers to. And it rocks, of course.
takinola 9mo ago
I think the point of the song is inevitability (in the context of African liberation). The idea being that Africa is indispensable to the world and will eventually overcome.
relaxing 9mo ago
You owe it to yourself to read up on the message and the circumstances around the song. Simple words, profound metaphor for life during wartime. Then do the flip side of the record (“Expensive Shit”.)
notesinthefield 9mo ago
What a profoundly ignorant comment, at least it obvious you didnt try to see who it was you were listening to.

melsmo 9mo ago

Did anyone see Fela, the musical? It was so good. https://felakuti.com/us/legacy/fela-the-musical https://felakuti.com/us/legacy/fela-the-musical?

TrevorAustin 9mo ago
I did! One of the best shows I have ever seen. And Ngaujah had to have been the hardest-working man on Broadway during that run. Just an incredible performance.

endorphine 9mo ago

Beasts of no Nation is a personal favorite!

learingsci 9mo ago

Long time coming. All these years later, still heavy in my daily rotation.

josefritzishere 9mo ago

If you are not familiar with Fela Kuti, he's like the James Brown of Afro-Pop. His music is super funky and amazing, and his family history is fascinating. Highly reccomended.

somalihoaxes 9mo ago

[flagged]

mixmastamyk 9mo ago

A local here pointed him out to me about five years ago. I looked him up, and a month later or so found and watched a documentary on Kanopy called "Finding Fela", quite interesting.

discordance 9mo ago

I was totally hooked on the recent podcast by Jad Abumrad - Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, that covers his life, music and political evolution: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXDQyUD9DD1CDYT https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXD...