FELA KUTI

African Fusion / Jazz Related Soundtracks • Nigeria
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Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 — 2 August 1997), or simply Fela ([feˈlæ]), was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick.

Fela was born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria into a middle-class family. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a feminist activist in the anti-colonial movement and his father, Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a Protestant minister and school principal, was the first president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers. His brothers, Beko Ransome-Kuti and Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, both medical doctors, are well known in Nigeria. Fela was a first cousin to the Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, the first African to win a Nobel Prize for Literature. Fela was sent to London in 1958 to study medicine but decided to study music instead at the Trinity College of Music. While there, he formed the band Koola Lobitos,
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FELA KUTI Discography

FELA KUTI albums / top albums

FELA KUTI Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Koola Lobitos
African Fusion 1965
FELA KUTI Fela Ransome-Kuti And His Africa '70 : Fela Fela Fela album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Fela Ransome-Kuti And His Africa '70 : Fela Fela Fela
African Fusion 1970
FELA KUTI Fela's London Scene (aka Buy America) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Fela's London Scene (aka Buy America)
African Fusion 1971
FELA KUTI Open & Close album cover 3.62 | 4 ratings
Open & Close
African Fusion 1971
FELA KUTI Why Black Man Dey Suffer album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Why Black Man Dey Suffer
African Fusion 1971
FELA KUTI Music Of Fela - Roforofo Fight (aka Music Of Fela Volume 2: Question Jam Answer) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Music Of Fela - Roforofo Fight (aka Music Of Fela Volume 2: Question Jam Answer)
African Fusion 1972
FELA KUTI Na Poi album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Na Poi
African Fusion 1972
FELA KUTI Shakara (aka Lady aka Lady Shakara) album cover 4.50 | 1 ratings
Shakara (aka Lady aka Lady Shakara)
African Fusion 1972
FELA KUTI Afrodisiac album cover 3.50 | 4 ratings
Afrodisiac
African Fusion 1973
FELA KUTI Fela Ransome Kuti & The Africa 70 : Gentleman album cover 4.17 | 3 ratings
Fela Ransome Kuti & The Africa 70 : Gentleman
African Fusion 1973
FELA KUTI Alagbon Close album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Alagbon Close
African Fusion 1974
FELA KUTI Confusion album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Confusion
African Fusion 1974
FELA KUTI Everything Scatter album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Everything Scatter
African Fusion 1975
FELA KUTI He Miss Road album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
He Miss Road
African Fusion 1975
FELA KUTI Noise for Vendor Mouth album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Noise for Vendor Mouth
African Fusion 1975
FELA KUTI Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana
African Fusion 1975
FELA KUTI Expensive Shit album cover 3.80 | 5 ratings
Expensive Shit
African Fusion 1975
FELA KUTI No Bread (aka Unnecessary Begging) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
No Bread (aka Unnecessary Begging)
African Fusion 1975
FELA KUTI Yellow Fever album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Yellow Fever
African Fusion 1976
FELA KUTI Ikoyi Blindness album cover 3.70 | 5 ratings
Ikoyi Blindness
African Fusion 1976
FELA KUTI Up Side Down album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Up Side Down
African Fusion 1976
FELA KUTI Excuse O album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
Excuse O
African Fusion 1976
FELA KUTI Kalakuta Show album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Kalakuta Show
African Fusion 1976
FELA KUTI No Agreement album cover 3.50 | 2 ratings
No Agreement
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI Fear Not for Man album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Fear Not for Man
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI J.J.D. (Johnny Just Drop) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
J.J.D. (Johnny Just Drop)
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI Opposite People album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Opposite People
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI Stalemate album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Stalemate
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI Sorrow Tears and Blood album cover 4.40 | 5 ratings
Sorrow Tears and Blood
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI Zombie album cover 4.08 | 6 ratings
Zombie
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI Shuffering and Shmiling album cover 4.00 | 2 ratings
Shuffering and Shmiling
African Fusion 1978
FELA KUTI Unknown Soldier album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Unknown Soldier
African Fusion 1979
FELA KUTI V.I.P. (Vagabonds in Power) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
V.I.P. (Vagabonds in Power)
African Fusion 1979
FELA KUTI Authority Stealing album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Authority Stealing
African Fusion 1980
FELA KUTI Music Of Many Colours (with Roy Ayers) (aka  2000 Blacks) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Music Of Many Colours (with Roy Ayers) (aka 2000 Blacks)
African Fusion 1980
FELA KUTI International Thief Thief album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
International Thief Thief
African Fusion 1980
FELA KUTI Coffin for Head of State album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Coffin for Head of State
African Fusion 1981
FELA KUTI Original Sufferhead album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Original Sufferhead
African Fusion 1981
FELA KUTI Unnecessary Begging album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
Unnecessary Begging
African Fusion 1982
FELA KUTI Perambulator album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Perambulator
African Fusion 1983
FELA KUTI Army Arrangement album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Army Arrangement
African Fusion 1984
FELA KUTI Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense album cover 3.75 | 2 ratings
Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense
African Fusion 1986
FELA KUTI Mr. Follow Follow album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Mr. Follow Follow
African Fusion 1986
FELA KUTI I Go Shout Plenty!!! album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
I Go Shout Plenty!!!
African Fusion 1986
FELA KUTI Beasts of No Nation album cover 4.00 | 2 ratings
Beasts of No Nation
African Fusion 1989
FELA KUTI O.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
O.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)
African Fusion 1989
FELA KUTI Just Like That album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Just Like That
African Fusion 1990
FELA KUTI Music Is the Weapon of the Future, Volume 2 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Music Is the Weapon of the Future, Volume 2
African Fusion 1990
FELA KUTI Confusion Break Bones album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Confusion Break Bones
African Fusion 1990
FELA KUTI Underground System album cover 3.50 | 2 ratings
Underground System
African Fusion 1992
FELA KUTI Finding Fela: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Finding Fela: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Jazz Related Soundtracks 2014

FELA KUTI EPs & splits

FELA KUTI live albums

FELA KUTI Afro Beat on Stage: Recorded Live at the Afro Spot album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Afro Beat on Stage: Recorded Live at the Afro Spot
African Fusion 1966
FELA KUTI Fela With Ginger Baker Live! album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
Fela With Ginger Baker Live!
African Fusion 1971
FELA KUTI J.J.D (Johnny Just Drop!!) - Live!! At Kalakuta Republik album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
J.J.D (Johnny Just Drop!!) - Live!! At Kalakuta Republik
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI V.I.P. (Vagabonds In Power) - Live In Berlin Vol. 1 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
V.I.P. (Vagabonds In Power) - Live In Berlin Vol. 1
African Fusion 1979
FELA KUTI Live in Amsterdam album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Live in Amsterdam
African Fusion 1984
FELA KUTI Big Blind Country album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Big Blind Country
African Fusion 2010
FELA KUTI Live In Detroit, 1986 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Live In Detroit, 1986
African Fusion 2012

FELA KUTI demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

FELA KUTI re-issues & compilations

FELA KUTI Vols 1 & 2 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Vols 1 & 2
African Fusion 1977
FELA KUTI Black President album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Black President
African Fusion 1981
FELA KUTI Black Man's Cry album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Black Man's Cry
African Fusion 1992
FELA KUTI Buy Africa album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Buy Africa
African Fusion 1997
FELA KUTI Shakara / London Scene album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Shakara / London Scene
African Fusion 1999
FELA KUTI V.I.P. / Authority Stealing album cover 4.50 | 1 ratings
V.I.P. / Authority Stealing
African Fusion 1999
FELA KUTI Original Suffer Head / I.T.T. album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Original Suffer Head / I.T.T.
African Fusion 1999
FELA KUTI Yellow Fever / Na Poi album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Yellow Fever / Na Poi
African Fusion 1999
FELA KUTI Opposite People / Sorrow Tears and Blood album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Opposite People / Sorrow Tears and Blood
African Fusion 1999
FELA KUTI The Best of Fela Kuti: The Black President album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
The Best of Fela Kuti: The Black President
African Fusion 1999
FELA KUTI The Two Sides of Fela: Jazz & Dance album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
The Two Sides of Fela: Jazz & Dance
African Fusion 1999
FELA KUTI The Anthology album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
The Anthology
African Fusion 2000
FELA KUTI Shuffering and Shmiling / No Agreement album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Shuffering and Shmiling / No Agreement
African Fusion 2000
FELA KUTI Stalemate / Fear Not for Man album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Stalemate / Fear Not for Man
African Fusion 2000
FELA KUTI Open & Close / Afrodisiac (feat. The Africa '70) album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Open & Close / Afrodisiac (feat. The Africa '70)
African Fusion 2001
FELA KUTI Monkey Banana / Excuse O album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Monkey Banana / Excuse O
African Fusion 2001
FELA KUTI Ikoyi Blindness / Kalakuta Show album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Ikoyi Blindness / Kalakuta Show
African Fusion 2001
FELA KUTI Coffin for Head of State / Unknown Soldier album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Coffin for Head of State / Unknown Soldier
African Fusion 2002
FELA KUTI Anthology 1 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Anthology 1
African Fusion 2007
FELA KUTI Alagbon Close / Why Black Man Dey Suffer album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Alagbon Close / Why Black Man Dey Suffer
African Fusion 2007
FELA KUTI Anthology 2 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Anthology 2
African Fusion 2010
FELA KUTI Vinyl Box Set 2: Compiled by Ginger Baker album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Vinyl Box Set 2: Compiled by Ginger Baker
African Fusion 2012

FELA KUTI singles (0)

FELA KUTI movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
Musique au poing
African Fusion 1982

FELA KUTI Reviews

FELA KUTI Sorrow Tears and Blood

Album · 1977 · African Fusion
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
Matt
What a year 1977 was for "Fela Kuti" he released six albums that I know of, had been beaten by the police and army, had his compound burnt down and to top it off his mother was thrown out the window during the compound raid and killed by security forces but the music kept coming with lyrics that only kept getting him into more trouble with the current government in Nigeria. The following year he really got himself into deep trouble when he decided in one grand ceremony to mark the date of the attack from the previous year to marry 27 wifes at once. Fela did not have an easy life and the trouble started in 1977 when he released "Zombie" which was one of his biggest hits with lyrics pertaining to the use of force and corruption in the Nigerian police force where after'"Coffin for Head of State" followed concerning his mothers murder with the flip on the album being "Unknown Soldier" referring to the authorities response to the incident."Opposite People" was also released but also we have another two Fela classics with "Zombie" and "Shuffering and Shmiling" and also this album, "Sorrow Tears and Blood' with the unforgettable lyrics that Fela wrote and recorded in 1977 concerning the 1976 Soweto Uprising.

Only two tracks and both are Afro Beat as only Fela knew how to play because it was he who came up with the format. Both are a fair length with the title "Sorrow Tears and Blood" being 10.15 in length which is actually quite short for a Fela tune as they usually are between 15 to 30 minutes in length with the other track "Colonial Mentality" being only 13.42 in length and both are as good as each other. The album only comes in for only 24 minutes but one thing, even though short the quality is not affected. Big band to say the least was the set up with usually around 20 people and a mix of instruments but Fela always had twin Baritone saxophones in the band, numerous people on drums and percussion. Always a couple of guitarists, a squad of female backing vocalists, bass, trumpet, trombone,etc and Fela sang lead vocals and played saxophone, keyboards but could also pick up a trumpet, guitar or drums when required.

The title is first with a quick guitar intro where intensity starts to build and then the band comes in with keyboard being up front and then horns. One thing is the use of "Shakers" or maracas which are the basic rythmn tool in Afro Beat and with the mix of drums and percussion poly rythmn is always present. Call and response are another component with the vocals giving the music its unique sound. Fela sang in Pidgin English with often the backing girls singing response in "Yoruba" his native dialect."Sorrow Tears ande Blood" is short and there is no long jam for the intro as Fela is on vocals within three minutes into to the song but the intensity keeps going up with some wonderful solos on keyboards and saxophone which actually finishes things off for the song. "Colonial Mentality" is the other and more in a usual Afro Beat style with a great instrumental,jam opening with the theme or chorus repeated by the twin baritones saxes throughout. Fela really gives the tenor sax a blow for this with always bass and shakers just behind putting in that rythmn and intensity which keeps building with some beautiful trumpet laid over it and keyboard having a turn later and that Afro groove coming keeps coming. The lyrics are concerning Fela's take with the colonial presence still felt within even the Black population and as always with Fela's influence from Black Movements he wanted it Africa's way. Just under 14 minutes of pure drive and joy even though the lyrics are not in that manner the music is always is with that great feel done only as "Fela Kuti" knew how.

Great Fela Kuti album and one that should be considered if you are after his best

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