Fela Kuti is the very first name, or at least one of the top three names, anyone who knows Nigerian music would mention when speaking about the country’s music landscape or Afrobeat as a whole. His music, which has been around for over six decades, has had a great influence on the people, the country, and fellow musicians who continued in his footsteps. Fela Kuti’s creation of Afrobeat served as a great guide and influence for musicians around the world, most especially the present set of Nigerian Afrobeat musicians who are making Nigeria proud by pushing Afrobeat music on global stages and to foreign audiences.
With the growth of Afrobeat and the new direction of the genre in this present time, it is essential to also look back at the major influence and drive that it enforced in its early days of creation by its creator and originator, Fela Kuti. One of the major uses of the Afrobeat genre by Fela Kuti was for addressing the political and social issues affecting the country.
As a political activist, he used his music to speak about the problems affecting the people and the oppression of citizens, including severe oppression of the powerless and the government’s nonchalant attitude towards its people, and most importantly, the corruption that eats up the country. In Fela Kuti’s music, he criticized the government openly for their corrupt ways and abuse of power. Fela Kuti rooted the Afrobeat music genre in combating and fighting the oppression and injustice faced by the people of Nigeria.
Fela Kuti’s influence did not just exist in Nigeria but spread across the world, including American media. The Afrobeat genre inspired American artists such as Kanye West, who mentioned having the spirit of Fela Kuti flowing through him, Jay Z in his music and selection of musical compilations, J Cole who sampled Fela Kuti’s ‘Gentleman’ track, and Questlove who described Fela Kuti’s music as ‘Not microwaved music but Souffle, it is a slow burn that just sizzles and gets hotter’.
Broadway and Theater
Fela Kuti’s experience was also present on Broadway and in theaters overseas with ‘FELA! The Musical‘. The Broadway preview started at Eugene O’Neill Theatre on October 19, 2009, and was directed by Bill T. Jones. It opened officially on November 23, 2009, featuring Kevin Mambo as Fela, Saycon Sengbloh and Michelle Williams as Sandra, and Lillias White as Fela’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
It was based on Fela’s life story and most importantly his activist aspect, showing the audience how Fela was a target of over a thousand government soldiers who were instructed to disrupt and end his public performance at The Shrine. The musical not only showed the life of Fela but also gave viewers the feel and sense of being at that particular moment when all this occurred, showing the audience the willingness, love, and courage Fela had for the music and spreading his message with the cost of his life on the line.
The musical, which featured production from Jay Z, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and others, was instrumental in bringing Fela’s story to a wider audience. ‘FELA!’ had its opening performance in September 2011 at Harman Center for the Arts in Washington DC, and opened in Canada in October 2011 at Canon Theatre, among other locations.
It became commercially successful and earned 11 Tony Award nominations, winning three. The Broadway show ‘FELA!’ helped people understand the way of life in Nigeria and the positivity Fela brought to it through his music and fight for a better nation. It showcased Fela’s nation-building and social awareness traits that everyone can learn from, teaching us to stand for our rights and freedom as humans.
Film and Documentaries
In documentaries like Finding Fela (2014), directed by Alex Gibney, in-depth areas of Fela’s life and legacy are explored, including his transformation from a musician to a striking political force. The documentary features Fela’s children, Yeni Kuti, Seun Kuti, and Tony Allen, as well as footage of Fela Kuti himself. Through interviews, footage of performances, and more, the documentary shows viewers live events, including the founding of the Kalakuta Republic and the Shrine, his struggle with the Nigerian government and military, and the impact of his music on social justice globally.
Likewise, the Fela Kuti: Music Is the Weapon documentary (1982), directed by Jean-Jacques Flori and Stéphane Tchal-Gadjieff, captures Fela’s energetic live music performances, interactions with his community in Lagos, and mainly shows the confrontations between Fela Kuti and political bodies. Even the title suggests that Fela truly believed music could be used for social change and resistance against oppression in society. The documentary gives viewers a glimpse into Fela’s life and how he gave people music as a tool for speaking out against the wrongdoing of authorities.
Television and Media
In television and movies, Fela’s music is no stranger, especially in Hollywood films. Some are:
- 2023 Netflix movie “Heart of Stone” features Fela’s hit “Zombie,” a song that narrates the invasion of Nigerian soldiers at his renowned Kalakuta Republic. This track finds its way into the theme of the action thriller movie “Heart of Stone,” which is about peacekeeping.
- Fela’s music “Zombie” also featured in the 2006 film “The Last King of Scotland,” which
- The 2007 movie “The Visitor” features Fela’s “Open & Close,”
- “Beasts of No Nation” includes Fela’s track “Fear Not For Man,”
- CW also used Fela’s Zombie song as one of the sound track in the TV Series “Black Lighting” in the 10th episode of season 3
- The 2021 movie “The Harder They Fall” features “Open & Close.”
- In Daniel Kaluuya’s directed movie The Kitchen features Fela’s “Zombie” track
- “Black Man’s Cry” was also featured in the 2022 movie “Rise”
If you look closely you will see the theme of rebellion in those shows and movies, which is also connected to the messages found in Fela’s music, rebellion against oppression and corruption.
The Cultural and Social Impact of Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti’s music and legacy encompass Afrocentrism and Black identity. He used his music to celebrate African culture, way of life, attire, and native language in his performances, empowering Africans both on the continent and overseas to embrace their identity and roots. This made him one of the global Black icons of resistance and also encouraged African Americans to embrace their African roots, as seen in reality and the media.
Fela Kuti’s enduring legacy in American media is proof of his impact and influence on music, social awareness, politics, and culture in general. His work continues to inspire new generations and the culture, from the creation of the music genre Afrobeats, which has been sampled and incorporated into some American songs, to his message of fighting for one’s rights against oppression, as seen in the Black Lives Matter movement in America. His story was also brought to the American audience through the Broadway musical “FELA!” and his songs being used in Hollywood movies. All of this shows that his life and work continue to stay relevant and inspire new generations.
