A legend called Fela, Abami Eda

Started by emezico, Aug 02, 2012, 04:29 PM

emezico

Fela Anikulapo Kuti; born in Abeokuta on 15th October 1938 as Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, he was to be known by one name only: Fela he changed his middle name to Anikulapo (meaning "he who carries death in his pouch")

In 1960, Fela married his first wife, Remilekun (Remi) Taylor.

Fela set up a nightclub in the Empire Hotel, named the Afro-Spot and then the Afrika Shrine, where he performed regularly. The musical style performed by Fela Kuti is called Afrobeat, which is a complex fusion of Jazz, Funk.

Fela was also a strong activist. So much so a newspaper was quoted as saying "Imagine Che Guevara and Bob Marley rolled into one person and you get a sense of Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti. "

Herald Sun, February 2011.

On 3rd August 1997, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, already a prominent AIDS activist and former Minister of Health, stunned the nation by announcing his younger brother's death a day earlier 2nd August 1997.

15 years on Fela also known as Abami Eda still lives on through his songs.