Gentleman
Fela Kuti Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mi gbo
O sele
Mi gbo dada
Mi ti gbo

I no be gentleman at all
I no be gentleman at all
I no be gentleman at all o
I no be gentleman at all, at all

I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original

Them call you, make you come chop
You chop small, you say you belle full
You say you be gentleman, you go hungry
You go suffer, you go quench
Me I no be gentleman like that

I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original

You dey go your way, the jeje way
Somebody come bring, original trouble
You no talk, you no act, you say you be gentleman
You go suffer, you go tire, you go quench
Me I no be gentleman like that

I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original

Africa hot, I like am so
I know what to wear, but my friends don't know
Him put him socks, him put him shoe
Him put him pant, him put him singlet
Him put him trouser, him put him shirt
Him put him tie, him put him coat
Him come cover all with him hat
Him be gentleman, him go sweat, all over
Him go faint right down, him go smell like shit
Him go piss for body, him no go know
Me I no be gentleman like that

I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original

I no be gentleman at all, at all
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original
I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original




I no be gentleman at all o
I be Africa man original

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fela Kuti's "Gentleman" convey the message that he rejects the idea of being a gentleman in the conventional sense, especially as dictated by European colonialists. In the song, Fela differentiates himself as an "Africa man original," someone who does not conform to the values and behaviors of the Western world. This is symbolized in the song as he talks about how African men are comfortable being shirtless while the Western men wear a suit and coat - sweating and suffering all over. Instead, Fela expresses admiration for the hot and sensual nature of Africa and the natural ways of being that come with it.


The song also speaks to a larger issue of the aftermath of colonialism in Africa. Western colonization attempted to impose their cultural standards onto the African people. Fela saw this as taking away an essential part of African identity and resented the concept of being forced to adhere to rules that do not derive from his cultural background. For him, being an "Africa man original" meant rejecting these imposed standards and embracing who he is and where he comes from.


Overall, the lyrics to "Gentleman" show Fela's rejection of Western norms, reclaiming a sense of African identity that colonialism tried to suppress. It’s a powerful statement of African pride and cultural freedom that reinforces the importance of self-identification and embracing cultural heritage.


Line by Line Meaning

Mi gbo
I hear


O sele
He has finished


Mi gbo dada
I hear clearly


Mi ti gbo
I have heard


I no be gentleman at all
I am not a gentleman at all


I be Africa man original
I am an original African man


Them call you, make you come chop
They invite you to eat


You chop small, you say you belle full
You eat a little and say you are full


You say you be gentleman, you go hungry
You claim to be a gentleman and suffer hunger


You go suffer, you go quench
You will suffer and eventually satisfy your hunger


Me I no be gentleman like that
I am not a gentleman like that


You dey go your way, the jeje way
You go your way, calmly


Somebody come bring, original trouble
Someone brings real problems


You no talk, you no act, you say you be gentleman
You do not speak or act, but claim to be a gentleman


You go suffer, you go tire, you go quench
You will suffer, tire, and eventually satisfy yourself


Africa hot, I like am so
Africa is hot, I like it like that


I know what to wear, but my friends don't know
I know what to wear, but my friends do not


Him put him socks, him put him shoe
He puts on his socks and shoes


Him put him pant, him put him singlet
He puts on his pants and singlet


Him put him trouser, him put him shirt
He puts on his trousers and shirt


Him put him tie, him put him coat
He puts on his tie and coat


Him come cover all with him hat
He covers everything with his hat


Him be gentleman, him go sweat, all over
He is a gentleman, but will sweat all over


Him go faint right down, him go smell like shit
He will faint right there and smell bad


Him go piss for body, him no go know
He will urinate on himself without even realizing it


I no be gentleman at all, at all
I am not a gentleman at all




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (FRANCE), F.K.O. Music, EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI, Kuti Fela Anikulapo

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@nosisapenxa2896

It's funny how I thought my Dad's music was boring back then. Fela and Femi Kuti were his favourite musicians. He would play their music in our long family road trips. I remember my brothers and I including my mother rolling our eyes everytime we hear Fela's Lady or Femi's bang bang. I remember my Dad playing Fela's Lady and how he articulated the song made me realise that I am exactly like Lady. It would be hours of this music. Now that I'm much older, I'm hooked on this music. Fela and Femi are both musical geniuses indeed!!

@johnstone7579

The pains of growing up

@MRSZ5440

watch felabration 2015 and listen to Shangai do lady and Kokoro show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXnYh5SXtFo&t=5744s

@MarcOmar

Same here.

@michaelkb8-245

Lool the eye rolling made me laugh. My dad used to love Fela and Bob Marley. I'm now obssessed too 🤣🤣🤣

@MarcOmar

@MichaelKB8-24 😂 our dads knew what was up.

7 More Replies...

@gantzerX

I'm mexican and i know music is universal but this musician, Fela, is a god. Afrobeat is awesome. Greetings for every fan of Fela out there !

@pholask3847

Greetings from South Africa

@phantom2k10

respeck

@Luispradoh

güey, no te creas, estaba cagando el palo nada más, está chido que te guste fela k.

More Comments

More Versions