He is a multi-instrument player (vocal, saxophone, keyboard, trumpet, guitar, and drums) and also known well as the pioneer of Afrobeat, and “the black president”.
He was born in Nigeria in 1938 in a colonial Christian family.
He studied music in University in London and around this time he experienced discrimination against blacks. Finally it influenced his whole life and his music style.
In the late 60’s, his music started to change through the tour in the USA as he got a political influence by such as Malcolm X, and Black Panther Party. Also he was musically inspired by James Brown’s funk music. Then he began to call his music “Afrobeat”.
Afrobeat has roots in Yoruba, jazz, highlife music, which means Western African music, and of course funk music. As a distinction, it always includes political contexts.
He devoted his life to change Nigeria’s situation and fought for the rights of black people against corrupt government as an anti-imperialism/anti-establishment.
In 1976 he released the album “Zombie”. In the song “Zombie” from this album, he called army ironically as zombies.
Although his political movement was oppressed by the government again and again, his fans who found hope in Fela’s music kept supporting him.
In 1997, he died from AIDS.
His music still has big influence on today’s Nigeria.
Many artists admire him, such as Sade, Macy Gray, Common, etc.In 2008, his life was reenacted as a musical and won popularity.
Now his son Femi Kuti inherit his music style.
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