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Fela Kuti 1938 - 1997

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1998 saw a surge in popularity of Afro-beat in general and rebel musician Fela Kuti in particular. Tributes and articles in the press were numerous and a remake of the classic 'Expensive Shit' was made by Masters At Work

In 1995, Eno told the BBC, "I listen to [Fela] over and over and over again. I have more albums by him than by any other single artist . . . I listen particularly to the way the bass is used; that's what really interests me about these records. The use of the bass as an instrument that is both percussive and melodic at the same time. "

To the Pan-African world, Fela was a towering figure who arguably combined elements of pure artistry, political perseverance, and a mystic, spiritual consciousness in a way that no other individual ever has. Musically, he achieved a level comparable to Miles Davis, James Brown, Thelonius Monk, and Bob Marley. At times, he was a Peter Tosh or a Sun Ra, yet more. Politically, he subscribed to the point of view of Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah, Malcolm X, and Kwame Ture. Spiritually, less is known about Fela, except that his spiritual vision grew from the African tradition and his belief in the sublime power of musicians.
http://incolor.inetnebr.com/cvanpelt/Felaweb/africaman.html -- Carter Van Pelt

Singer-composer, bandleader, trumpet, saxophone, keyboard player, and politician. Kuti is one of Africa's most revered names.

He began as a highlife singer in 1954 and during this period developed his own unusual sound which he described as highlife-jazz. In 1968 Kuti announced the arrival of Afro-beat, and within the year was taling his music on a 10-month tour of America where he became influenced by the new jazz movement at the time. On returning to Nigeria he opened a nightclub, the Shrine, and changed the name of his band to Africa 70. His outspoken views and fight for the rights of the common man and woman made him unpopular with the government but a hero to the people and when in 1979 the people returned to power in the country Kuti began his own political party - MOP (Movement of the People). However the military returned to power in 1983 and within the year Kuti was sentenced to five years imprisonment on a spurious currency smuggling charge.

He was released in 1986 after yet another change of government. The band reformed as Egypt 80 included a huge and exciting line-up of singers, dancers, horn section, drummers, percussionists and several guitarists. By the 1990's he had recorded a prolific amount of work as evident by his discography.
http://www.mboss.force9.co.uk/felakuti.htm

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, musician and political rebel, died of an Aids-related illness at his home in Nigeria on August 2 1997 at the age of 58.