HMV Magazine ranked him as #46 on a list of the 100 most influential musicians of the 20th century.
The musical style performed by Fela Kuti is called Afrobeat, which is essentially a fusion of jazz, funk, highlife, and traditional Yoruban chants and rhythms. It is characterized by having African-style percussion, vocals, and musical structure, along with jazzy, funky horn sections. The endless groove is also used, in which a base rhythm of drums, shekere, muted guitar, and bass guitar are repeated throughout the song. His band was notable for featuring two baritone saxophones, whereas most groups using this instrument only use one. This is a common technique in African and African-influenced musical styles, and can be seen in funk and hip-hop. Some elements often present in Fela's music are the call-and-response within the chorus and figurative but simple lyrics. Fela's songs were almost always over 10 minutes in length, some reaching the 20- or even 30-minute marks, while some unreleased tracks would last up to 45 minutes when performed live. This was one of many reasons that his music never reached a substantial degree of popularity outside of Africa. His songs were mostly sung in Nigerian pidgin, although he also performed a few songs in the Yoruba language. Fela's main instruments were the saxophone and the keyboards, but he also played the trumpet, guitar, and took the occasional drum solo. Fela refused to perform songs again after he had already recorded them, which also hindered his popularity outside Africa. Fela was known for his showmanship, and his concerts were often quite outlandish and wild. He referred to his stage act as the Underground Spiritual Game.
Fela was born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, to a middle-class family. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was a feminist activist in the anti-colonial movement and his father, Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, a Protestant minister and school Principal, was the first president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers. His brothers, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti and Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti,both medical doctors, are both well known in Nigeria.
Fela was sent to London in 1958 to study medicine but decided to study music instead at the Trinity College of Music. While there, he formed the band Koola Lobitos, playing a style of music that he would later call Afrobeat. The style was a fusion of American Jazz, psychedelic rock, and Funk with West African Highlife. In 1961, Fela married his first wife, Remilekun (Remi) Taylor, with whom he would have three children (Femi, Yeni, and Sola). In 1963, Fela moved back to Nigeria, re-formed Koola Lobitos and trained as a radio producer for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. In 1969, Fela took the band to the United States. While there, Fela discovered the Black power movement through Sandra Smith (now Isidore)—a partisan of the Black Panther Party—which would heavily influence his music and political views and renamed the band Nigeria ’70. Soon, the Immigration and Naturalization Service was tipped off by a promoter that Fela and his band were in the US without work permits. The band then performed a quick recording session in Los Angeles that would later be released as The '69 Los Angeles Sessions.
Fela and his band, renamed Africa '70, returned to Nigeria. He then formed the Kalakuta Republic, a commune, a recording studio, and a home for many connected to the band that he later declared independent from the Nigerian state. Fela set up a nightclub in the Empire Hotel, named the Afro-Spot and then the Afrika Shrine, where he performed regularly. Fela also changed his middle name to Anikulapo (meaning "he who carries death in his pouch"), stating that his original middle name of Ransome was a slave name. The recordings continued, and the music became more politically motivated. Fela's music became very popular among the Nigerian public and Africans in general. In fact, he made the decision to sing in Pidgin English so that his music could be enjoyed by individuals all over Africa, where the local languages spoken are very diverse and numerous. As popular as Fela's music had become in Nigeria and elsewhere, it was also very unpopular with the ruling government, and raids on the Kalakuta Republic were frequent. In 1974 the police arrived with a search warrant and a cannabis joint, which they had intended to plant on Fela. He became wise to this and swallowed the joint. In response, the police took him into custody and waited to examine his feces. Fela enlisted the help of his prison mates and gave the police someone else's feces, and Fela was freed. He then recounted this tale in his release Expensive Shit (now released together with "He Miss Road" as Expensive Shit/He Miss Road).
In 1977 Fela and the Afrika ’70 released the hit album Zombie, a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military. The album was a smash hit with the people and infuriated the government, setting off a vicious attack against the Kalakuta Republic, during which one thousand soldiers attacked the commune. Fela was severely beaten, and his elderly mother was thrown from a window, causing fatal injuries. The Kalakuta Republic was burned, and Fela's studio, instruments, and master tapes were destroyed. Fela claimed that he would have been killed if it were not for the intervention of a commanding officer as he was being beaten. Fela's response to the attack was to deliver his mother's coffin to the main army barrack in Lagos and write two songs, "Coffin for Head of State" and "Unknown Soldier," referencing the official inquiry that claimed the commune had been destroyed by an unknown soldier.
Fela and his band then took residence in Crossroads Hotel as the Shrine had been destroyed along with his commune. In 1978 Fela married 27 women, many of whom were his dancers, composers, and singers to mark the anniversary of the attack on the Kalakuta Republic. Later, he was to adopt a rotation system of keeping only twelve simultaneous wives. The year was also marked by two notorious concerts, the first in Accra in which riots broke out during the song "Zombie," which led to Fela being banned from entering Ghana. The second was at the Berlin Jazz Festival after which most of Fela's musicians deserted him, due to rumors that Fela was planning to use the entirety of the proceeds to fund his presidential campaign.
Despite the massive setbacks, Fela was determined to come back. He formed his own political party, which he called 'Movement of the People'. In 1979 he put himself forward for President in Nigeria's first elections for more than a decade but his candidature was refused. At this time, Fela created a new band called Egypt 80 and continued to record albums and tour the country. He further infuriated the political establishment by dropping the names of ITT vice-president Moshood Abiola and then General Olusegun Obasanjo at the end of a hot-selling 25-minute political screed titled "I. T. T. (International Thief Thief)."
In 1984, he was again attacked by the Military government, who jailed him on a dubious charge of currency smuggling. His case was taken up by several human-rights groups, and after 20 months, he was released from prison by General Ibrahim Babangida. On his release he divorced his 12 remaining wives, saying that "marriage brings jealousy and selfishness." Once again, Fela continued to release albums with Egypt 80, made a number of successful tours of the United States and Europe and also continued to be politically active. In 1986, Fela performed in Giants Stadium in New Jersey as part of the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope concert, sharing the bill with Bono, Carlos Santana, and the Neville Brothers. In 1989, Fela & Egypt 80 released the anti-apartheid "Beasts of No Nation" album that depicts on its cover U.S. President Ronald Reagan, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and South African Prime Minister P.W. Botha with fangs dripping blood.
His album output slowed in the 1990s, and eventually he stopped releasing albums altogether. The battle against military corruption in Nigeria was taking its toll, especially during the rise of dictator Sani Abacha. Rumors were also spreading that he was suffering from an illness for which he was refusing treatment. On 3 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 from Kaposi's sarcoma brought on by AIDS. (Their younger brother Beko was in jail at this time at the hand of Abacha for political activity). More than a million people attended Fela's funeral at the site of the old Shrine compound. A new Africa Shrine has opened since Fela's death in a different section of Lagos under the supervision of his son Femi Kuti.
Underground System
Fela Kuti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don sing song for the great African men
Na Osagyefo Kwame N'kruma be the greatest one
I don sing song for the great African men
I don sing song against African thieves
I don sing song against African thieves
Na Obasanjo be the biggest thieve I sing about and Abiola
I don sing song against African thieves
Dey no know anything about Kwame N'kruma
To know Nkruma Yeye leaders no fit dey
To know Nkruma Yeye President no fit dey
To know Nkruma Africa quality go show
To know Nkruma Prosperity go dey flow
To know Nkruma African pride go dey shine
To know Nkruma Good good things go dey happen
To know Nkruma Good good things go dey happen
To know Nkruma Good good things go dey happen
To know Nkruma Good good things go dey happen
To know Nkruma Good good things go dey happen
When one good man want rise for Africa
Today Bad leaders dey go wan finish am o
When one good man want rise for Africa
Today Useless people dey go wan finish am o
Dem go plan against am
Lie against am, lie against am
Talk against am, talk against am
Gang against am, gang against am
Plan against am, lie against am
You no see N'kruma dey finish am O
You no see Sekou Toure dey finish am O
You no see Lumumba dey finish am O
You no see Idi Amin dey finish am O
You no see Ben Bella dey finish am O
You no see Mandela as dey want killed am
You no see Beko as dey want killed am
You no see my brother as dey want killed am
Everywhere all over the world
Young people dem go dey look up to leaders
Wetin leaders do young people go dey do
One good thing African people dey do
Few of dem dem go gather together
Dem go start one club
Dem go dey contribute money together
Dem go dey share the money wey dem dey contribute
Once everything is by turn by turn
One good thing about this matter be say it is in the African tradition
For people to trust demselves
Where is SANKARA story O jare Yes O
One Afrikan leaders dey today Yes O
Him name na President SANKARA Yes O
This is the only leader wey e dey Yes O
Wey no dey fear to talk the truth Yes O
Him name na President SANKARA Yes O
Him be only leader wey e dey Yes O
Him say Africa unity Yes O
One African Government for All Yes O
All the other leaders wey dem dey Yes O
Na only dem pocket wey dem know Yes O
Underground system in their lifes Yes O
One Afrikan leader dey today Yes O
All African people dem like the man Yes O
Hin name na President SANKARA Yes O
Where is SANKARA story O jare Yes O
All African people dem like the man Yes O
Him name na President SANKARA Yes O
West African Governments dem get one club
Dem call the club dem call am ECOWAS CEDEAO in French
When e reach Sankara's turn to be chairman
African leaders dem start to fear
The underground system in their lifes
This one corruption and destruction
Mismanagement of the mind don start
Underground that is always misinstructs
That comot SANKARA from his turn
Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal
Dem come show the colour of their mind
When e reach Sankara's turn to be chairman
African leaders dem start to fear
The underground system in their lifes
Since I dey young for my country Yeye O
Those people i don understand Since
The time i don grow up O Yeye O Yeyeye
To find people to trust e hard O Yeye O
Na the leaders wey dey Africa Yeye O
Dey no dey show good example Yeye O Yeye O
Na the leaders wey dey Africa Yeye Yeye O
Den go just dey misbehaving Yeye Yeye O
The condition of my country Yeye O
Dey make me crying for my songs Yeeye Yeye O
On top of all these O Yeye Yeye O
Dem go kill SANKARA O Yeeye Yeye O
As I dey write this song for am O Yeye O
Dem go kill Sankara O Yeye O
Dem go kill Sankara O Yeeye Yeye O
As I dey write this song for am O Yeeye Yeye O
As I dey write this song for am O
When e reach my turn for turn by turn
When my turn by turn for chairman reach
When e reach my turn for turn by turn
When my turn by turn for chairman reach
The chairman na by turn by turn
The money all by turn by turn
The chairman na by turn by turn
All na by turn by turn
The chairman all by turn by turn
The money all by turn by turn
The chairman all by turn by turn
All na by turn by turn
All by turn by turn don turn to mess
If dem kill SANKARA nko
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
If dem kill SANKARA nko
The blood go dey for dem head o
If dem kill SANKARA nko
Den No fit kill hin spirit o
If dem kill SANKARA nko
Den No fit kill hin spirit o
If dem kill SANKARA nko
The blood go dey for dem head o
If dem kill SANKARA nko
If dem kill SANKARA nko
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
Fela Kuti's song "Underground System" is a commentary on the state of leadership in Africa. He sings about the heroes and villains of African leadership, praising figures like Kwame Nkrumah and Thomas Sankara while criticizing the likes of Obasanjo and Abiola for their corruption. Fela calls out the lack of knowledge about African leadership among young people and calls for a return to the values of Nkrumah, which he believes will bring prosperity and unity to the continent. However, he acknowledges that those who seek to embody these values are often met with opposition and violence from their fellow leaders, citing examples like Lumumba and Mandela.
The lyrics highlight the importance of trust and cooperation in African society. Fela praises the idea of communities coming together to share resources and support each other, which he calls an African tradition. However, he highlights the corrupt underground systems that undermine these values, leading to mismanagement and destruction.
Overall, "Underground System" is a call to action for Africans to embrace their history and values in order to overcome the obstacles facing the continent. It also serves as a warning about the dangers of corruption and the need for individuals to stand up for what is right in the face of opposition.
Line by Line Meaning
I don sing song for the great African men
I have made music about prominent African figures.
Na Osagyefo Kwame N'kruma be the greatest one
Osagyefo Kwame N'krumah is the most significant African figure.
I don sing song against African thieves
I have created music that criticizes corrupt African leaders.
Na Obasanjo be the biggest thieve I sing about and Abiola
Obasanjo and Abiola are two of the biggest African leaders whom I criticize for corruption.
Ah many African young people today
Today, many young Africans...
Dey no know anything about Kwame N'kruma
...do not know anything about Kwame N'krumah.
To know Nkruma Yeye leaders no fit dey
If African leaders were honest, they would acknowledge the significance of Nkrumah.
To know Nkruma Yeye President no fit dey
If African presidents were honest, they would attribute his importance to Nkrumah.
To know Nkruma Africa quality go show
If Africans recognized Nkrumah's contributions, Africa would thrive.
To know Nkruma Prosperity go dey flow
If Africans acknowledged Nkrumah's contributions, prosperity would flow.
To know Nkruma African pride go dey shine
If Africans recognized Nkrumah's contributions, African pride would shine.
To know Nkruma Good good things go dey happen
If Africans identified Nkrumah's importance, good things would happen.
When one good man want rise for Africa
When a good person wants to benefit Africa...
Today Bad leaders dey go wan finish am o
...bad leaders will try to stop them.
Today Useless people dey go wan finish am o
...useless people will try to stop them.
Dem go plan against am
They will conspire against them.
Lie against am, lie against am
They will spread false information about them.
Talk against am, talk against am
They will speak negatively about them.
Gang against am, gang against am
They will form groups to oppose them.
Plan against am, lie against am
They will plot and fabricate lies to discredit them.
You no see N'kruma dey finish am O
You can't bring down Nkrumah.
You no see Sekou Toure dey finish am O
You can't bring down Sekou Toure.
You no see Lumumba dey finish am O
You can't bring down Lumumba.
You no see Idi Amin dey finish am O
You can't bring down Idi Amin.
You no see Ben Bella dey finish am O
You can't bring down Ben Bella.
You no see Mandela as dey want killed am
They wanted to kill Mandela, but they were unsuccessful.
You no see Beko as dey want killed am
They wanted to kill Beko, but they were unsuccessful.
You no see my brother as dey want killed am
They wanted to kill my brother, but they were unsuccessful.
Everywhere all over the world
Throughout the world...
Young people dem go dey look up to leaders
...youth look up to their leaders.
Wetin leaders do young people go dey do
The actions of leaders influence the actions of young people.
One good thing African people dey do
One positive thing African people do is...
Few of dem dem go gather together
...they gather together in small groups.
Dem go start one club
...and form clubs.
Dem go dey contribute money together
...they contribute money together.
Dem go dey share the money wey dem dey contribute
...they share the money they contribute.
Once everything is by turn by turn
Rotation is the process they follow.
One good thing about this matter be say it is in the African tradition
This approach is rooted in African culture.
For people to trust demselves
People trust each other.
Where is SANKARA story O jare Yes O
Let us talk about Sankara.
One Afrikan leaders dey today Yes O
There is one African leader today...
Him name na President SANKARA Yes O
...and his name is President Sankara.
This is the only leader wey e dey Yes O
He is the only genuine leader.
Wey no dey fear to talk the truth Yes O
He is fearless in speaking the truth.
Him be only leader wey e dey Yes O
He is the only genuine leader.
Him say Africa unity Yes O
He advocates for African unity.
One African Government for All Yes O
One African government is needed for all.
All the other leaders wey dem dey Yes O
The other leaders...
Na only dem pocket wey dem know Yes O
...only care about their pockets.
Underground system in their lifes Yes O
They are involved in an underground system of corruption.
One Afrikan leader dey today Yes O
There is one African leader today...
All African people dem like the man Yes O
...whom all African people admire.
Hin name na President SANKARA Yes O
His name is President Sankara.
West African Governments dem get one club
West African governments belong to a club...
Dem call the club dem call am ECOWAS CEDEAO in French
...called ECOWAS (CEDEAO in French).
When e reach Sankara's turn to be chairman
When it was Sankara's turn to be chairman...
African leaders dem start to fear
...African leaders started to fear.
This one corruption and destruction
They were focused on corruption and destruction.
Mismanagement of the mind don start
They started mismanaging their minds.
Underground that is always misinstructs
This underground system always misleads them.
That comot SANKARA from his turn
This system prevented Sankara from taking his turn as chairman.
Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal
Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Senegal...
Dem come show the colour of their mind
...revealed their true colors.
Since I dey young for my country Yeye O
Since I was young in my country...
Those people i don understand Since
...I have not understood those people.
The time i don grow up O Yeye O Yeyeye
As I have grown up...
To find people to trust e hard O Yeye O
...it has been difficult to find trustworthy people.
Na the leaders wey dey Africa Yeye O
It is the African leaders...
Dey no dey show good example Yeye O Yeye O
...who do not set a good example.
Na the leaders wey dey Africa Yeye Yeye O
It is the African leaders...
Den go just dey misbehaving Yeye Yeye O
...who just misbehave.
The condition of my country Yeye O
The state of my country...
Dey make me crying for my songs Yeeye Yeye O
...makes me cry in my songs.
On top of all these O Yeye Yeye O
In addition...
Dem go kill SANKARA O Yeeye Yeye O
...they killed Sankara.
As I dey write this song for am O Yeye O
As I write this song for him...
Dem go kill Sankara O Yeye O
...they killed Sankara.
Dem go kill Sankara O Yeeye Yeye O
...they killed Sankara.
As I dey write this song for am O Yeeye Yeye O
As I write this song for him...
As I dey write this song for am O
As I write this song for him...
When e reach my turn for turn by turn
When it is my turn for rotation...
When my turn by turn for chairman reach
When it is my turn to be chairman...
The chairman na by turn by turn
The chairman is determined by rotation.
The money all by turn by turn
The money is distributed by rotation.
All na by turn by turn
Everything is done through rotation.
The chairman all by turn by turn don turn to mess
The chairman, determined by rotation, is now a mess.
If dem kill SANKARA nko
If they killed Sankara, then...
Dem shoot him today e no go possible tomorrow
They shoot him today, but it won't be possible tomorrow.
The blood go dey for dem head o
They will be responsible for his bloodshed.
Den No fit kill hin spirit o
They cannot kill his spirit.
Writer(s): Kuti Fela Anikulapo, Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Contributed by Leo K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mecom3450
（コーラス）5:15
We be about 14 of us
We de make one club together
Everything na turn by turn }(4ce)
Reach-chairman na turn by turn
俺たち、14人
一緒にクラブを作るんだ
全部代わる代わる
順番に議長のところまで進んでいこう
（メインソングの一部）17:28
when no de fear to talk di truth
Yes O!!
Him name na President Sankara
Yes O!!
恐れずに真実を語る男そうとも！！
やつの名はサンカラ大統領
（中間部）18:58
When e reach sankaras turn to be chairman
African leaders dem start to fear
Di underground system in their lives
Di show of corruption and destruction
サンカラが議長になったら
アフリカの指導者達は恐れ始める
やつらの生活のなかにある地下組織
そこには腐敗と崩壊しかない
（サビの一節)20:25
Dem go kill Sankara O
Ye e Ye O！！
やつらはサンカラを殺す
YE E YE E O
（最終部）21:34
if dem kill sankara nko
dem shoot me today e no go possible tommorow (to end)
if dem kill sankara nko
dem no go fil kill him story O
if dem kill sankara nko }
Di blood a gog e for dem head O }(2ce)
if dem kill sankara nko }
Africa must reach where im go reach }(to end)22:20
やつらがサンカラを殺したら
今日俺は撃たれるだろう、多分明日かもしれない
やつらがサンカラを殺しても
やつの歴史を消すことはできない
やつらがサンカラを殺しても
やつらの神が血を流すことになる
やつらがサンカラを殺したら
俺が進む場所へアフリカ人も進むべきだ
@oluggbal3005
I will never forget the comprehensive show when the jamaican reggae band " Third World" walked into shrine whilst Fela was playing this tune...Baba was on the second set of horn arrangement as they walked in...there was such look of admiraton on the face of one of the members of the Third world band....it was as if he was seeing the impossible happen before his face as he made his way to baba's corner as his guest for the night.....the band was in sync, everyone was on ther A game...possibly the best moment i have heard this tune played both in real life and recorded version....the synergy between every member of the band was on point.....What a great night it was then....im.so.glad i witnessed that moment!!! That look on his face just stayed with me since then and its what comes to mind whenever i listen to this tune....
@Babaogun
Thanks for sharing this story!
@tdilla73foreala39
Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.
@misterwales4963
Reading this gives me a satisfaction and I'm happy for you that you witnessed such greatness
@abubakarlabran6996
I was at the shrine that day, I am one the guys fela gave name at the opposite side he normally seat he use to call us internal busy body boys, we disturb and yab him a lot on fridays / Saturday shows, rest well Abami.
@koris6145
@@abubakarlabran6996 lol, Baba with yabis see name o
@chinonsoobinna2626
The secret of Life, is to have no Fear.
@newtclovers
A picture of Sankara playing the guitar got me here strangely enough, haha. Good music, I love this.
@MrJohnnyride
Me too!
@bwifpunish
@@MrJohnnyride Me three