“I no be gentleman at all, I no be gentleman at all, I no be gentleman at all, I be African man original…” The sweet melodies resonate from the lyrics, and hurls up memories of pure artistry, the true “abamieda”, the impartial voice of reason. This is Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, human rights activist and political maverick.
Fela grew up in an upper middle class family, son of Nigeria’s foremost feminist activist in the anti-colonial movement, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a Protestant minister, school principal and the first president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers. Choosing to follow the path of music, Fela pioneered the melodies of the Afrobeat genre, music at the soul of the African man. Fela didn’t just make music he created music in sounds, strings and chords and gave melodies depth through his lyrics. A constant tune on the airways, he revolutionized music turning it into a voice that one would listen and be lost in thought.
Men make history and history makes memories of them. Like every ambitious youth of his time, Fela hit the shores of the new world in pursuit of knowledge but he found music. And at that time, prominent black liberation movements were rising, Fela soon became influenced by their message for equality and freedom and his music took form. It was then he discovered Africa and soon came to the realization that the black man needed to be free. The chains of oppression had to come down and a Pan-Africanism movement needed to emerge. He returned home in pursuit of that with a deep sense of patriotism for the colours of the flag, to defend her unity and to uphold her progress. It was then Fela began his journey down the path of history.
It is the year of our lord, 1970, the dawn of a new age for the green stripped state, a nation picking up the pieces from a fierce battle for unity. As men picked up the pieces to rebuild, corruption soon trailed governance and decadence perverted every sense of social justice. Leaders rose to the charts of most wealth plundered, plundering without thought anything and everything. Greed and corruption filled the air as every man struggled to get a piece and the masses suffered in the midst of plenty. The high planes of dignity were lost as men clung to survival and to desperate means. Everyman for himself and God for us all. In Fela’s words, “the people’s minds had gone low” and chaos and mayhem ruled the streets. The people needed to be liberated, they needed to speak up and he was the voice.
The revolutionary tribune, Fela waged war with his music on the ruling government and men in places of power, whom he called “Authority stealing”. And as the government played “Army arrangement” in furtherance of their desire to loot more, mustering every means of force available like “Animal in human skin”; the voice of the acclaimed political dissident constantly chastised them. He soon became the government\’s foremost enemy and was often a victim of the “Unknown Soldier”, feeling the brunt of his supposed provocative music.
Fela was the voice of the people; he understood the common man, lived amongst them and understood their daily struggles. “Every day my people dey inside bus suffering and smiling, 49 sitting, 99 standing…” Music was his passion, the untamed voice and the true force of will. It was power, true power. He often sang in Pidgin English so that his music could be enjoyed by individuals all over the world. Fela believed music was a weapon, a weapon for change that could liberate a people and set them on the path to true freedom. He believed that the secret of the world was to have no fear and his message showed no fear as it revolutionized the thinking of the African man. Freedom is not for any man to give, it is a God given human right; that was his motto. He understood everything came at a price and he was willing to fight and pay for it. His lyrics spoke depth and a deep sense of patriotism and his words were “Africa needs to be united to make headway” and “One good government in one African country and the whole Africa will be liberated.”” His was a movement, a movement of truth, a movement of the people. It wasn’t just political activism; it was standing for truth, accountability, social justice for the liberation of the people enslaved in the fierce ambition and greed of their leaders.
Fela was the object of hope, and the voice of the people. Music was the weapon, the object of fierce resentment and objection to the men in power. Without the instruments of physical violence, it inflicted much damage on these men, piercing their souls as truth. Overweight defiance and violent persecution their response but still Fela never resented in speaking the truth. The voice of reason tackling every social injustice. His music was hope, hope awaiting substance even in death.
Music is the weapon
Music is the thing of the future
Music is the weapon of the future.
– Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Fela lives on!
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