2. Birth and family
Born as Olufela Olusegun Oludotun
Ransome-Kuti on 15th
october 1938
in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Mother was Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
was a feminist activist in the anti-
colonial movement
Father was Reverend Israel Oludotun
Ransome-Kuti, a Protestant minister
and school principal.
3. NIGERIA STATISTICS:
•Most populous country in
Africa
•English is the national
Language
•Has over 500 languages
Spoken in the country.
•It has been ruled by the
Military for the past 47 years
Since independence from the
British on October 1st
1960.
4. In 1958, Fela went to
London to study Medicine but
he ended up doing music at
Trinity College.
While at Trinity he formed the
Koola Lobitos Band.
6. 1963- Fela moves back to Nigeria and reforms the Koola Lobitos.
1967- Went to Ghana to think up a new direction for his music. He called it
Afrobeat
1969- Travels with his band to the US and meets Sandra Smith who
introduced him to the black panther movement and the black power
Movement. Band name changes to “Nigeria ’70”
1970- Moves back to Nigeria and names his band “The Africa 70”. His music
changed from love to social issues.
- He set up the Kalakuta Republic and the Afrika Shrine which served as
a commune for the band and people associated with them.
7. Date: 1977
Action: Fela and Afrika ‘70 release the album Zombie.
Effect: People all over Nigeria sing the song and the government is infuriated
End result: Kalakuta republic is attacked by a thousand soldiers and burnt down
: Fela is beaten severely
: Funmilayo is thrown out the
window and is in a comma for
8 weeks until her death.
: A more resilient Fela Kuti.
8. Fela wrote delivered his mother’s coffin to Olusegun Obasanjo’s residence
and wrote 2 songs
Unknown soldier
Coffin for head of State
10. Characteristics
Afrobeat has a touch of
Traditional African Style drumming
Funk
Highlife
Highlife is a musical genre that originated from Ghana in the 20th
century
and spread to Nigeria and Sierra Leone among other West African
countries by 1920.It is characterized by jazzy horns, and multiple guitars,
which lead the band
11. Instrumentation
ase rhythm of drums and shekere
or more electric guitars
horns (tenor, alto, 2 baritones , trumpet)
ass guitar
rgan/ electric piano
12. Elements of afrobeat
all and response
ong preludes before the vocals set in
olos
epetition
nterlocking rhythms between the bass and the guitars as well as the
13. Fela’s Contributions
e created and made popular the Afrobeat which is a great part of
African music now.
e encouraged young Pan Africanists to strive to have better
functioning governments
e encouraged use of music to create change in society.
14. FELABRATION
Every year in October,
people all around the world travel
to Nigeria to celebrate the life of
Fela Kuti and his contribution to
society.
Other events are also held in
different parts of the world to
celebrate him.
15. THE LAST DAYS OF FELA
He was diagnosed with AIDS and he died from complications that
were caused by the virus on August 2 1997 in Nigeria.
He believed in the power of music and he once said:
"With my music, I create change...I am using my music as a weapon."
16. Bibliography
Wikipedia.com. Wikipedia. 26 February 2013. 10 March 2013
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlife>.
Wkipedia.com. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti. 4 March 2013.
10 March 2013 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti>.
G.B. The Economist. 9 October 2012. 10 March 2013
<http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2012/11/nigerian-music>.
Janet Planet africamusic.org. the African Music Encyclopedia. 1 january 2005 .
10 March 2013 <http://africanmusic.org/artists/felakuti.html>.
Romer, Megan. About.com. 1 Jannuary 2013. 10 March 2013
<http://worldmusic.about.com/od/bandsartistsaz/p/FelaKuti.htm>.
