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.
Upside Down
Fela Kuti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Insturmetal...
Open that book them call dictionary
Open am make you see
Open that book them call dictionary
Open am make you see
Open am make you see
Them recognize who work for show yes
Open am make you see
Because him get him meaning too
Legs for down yansh for up
Because him get him meaning too
Legs for down yansh for up
Upside down get him meaning too
Legs for down yansh for up
Upside down get him meaning too
Legs for down yansh for up
I don travel I don see
I'm beginning to vex up for this land
The thing wey I see I go talk
About upside up and downside down
For oversea, wey I seeeee
Communication organize
Patapata
Agriculture organize
Patapata
Electric organize
Patapata
Them system organize
Patapata
Them people organize
Patapata
Them people organize
Patapata
English man get English name
American man get American name
German man get German name
Russian man get Russian name
Chinese man get Chinese name
For African man outside don't see
I'm beginning to vex up for this land
I no to travel anywhere
Everything dey under my nose
For African man outside don't see
Fillings boku road no dey
Land boku food no dey
Area boku house no dey
People no dey bear African name
People no dey think African style
People no know Africa great
For African man outside don't seeeeeee e e
Communication disorganize
Patapata
Agriculture disorganize
Patapata
Electric disorganize
Patapata
Everything is upside down
Patapata
Everything is upside down
Patapata
disorganize
Patapata
Disorganize
Patapata
Everything is upside down
Patapata
Everything is upside down
Patapata
Disorganize
Patapata
Disorganize
Patapata...
Insturmental...
The lyrics to Fela Kuti's song "Upside Down" lament the state of affairs in Africa and its relationship to the rest of the world. The opening lines call for the use of a dictionary to help understand the chaos and confusion that is happening. The phrase "upside down" is used to describe the state of things in Africa, where everything is disorganized and not functioning as it should. Throughout the song, Fela Kuti contrasts the disorganization in Africa with other parts of the world, especially the West, where he witnessed more structure and organization. He points out how everything in Africa seems turned around, with the people not being recognized for their work, agriculture and other essential services being disorganized and people not bearing African names.
Fela Kuti also points out how language has become a tool of oppression, with the colonial powers imposing their languages and their worldviews on the African people. The lyrics suggest that the African people are not fully in control of their lives and destiny, with their resources and cultural practices being co-opted by outsiders. Kuti implores his listeners to awaken and recognize the problems that exist, to take control of their destiny and create a society that reflects their values and needs.
Line by Line Meaning
Open that book them call dictionary
Consult the dictionary
Upside down dey there proper
Things can be upside down and still be correct
Them recognize who work for show yes
People appreciate performers
Because him get him meaning too
Even upside down has a meaning
Legs for down yansh for up
Things can be oriented in any direction
Upside down get him meaning too
Even upside down has significance
I don travel I don see
I've traveled and observed
The thing wey I see I go talk
I'll speak about what I've witnessed
Communication organize
Communication is organized
Agriculture organize
Agriculture is organized
Electric organize
Electricity is organized
Them system organize
The systems are organized
Them people organize
The people are organized
English man get English name
English people use English names
American man get American name
American people use American names
German man get German name
German people use German names
Russian man get Russian name
Russian people use Russian names
Chinese man get Chinese name
Chinese people use Chinese names
I no to travel anywhere
I don't need to travel to see what's going on
Everything dey under my nose
Everything is right in front of me
Fillings boku road no dey
There are plenty of people but no infrastructure
Land boku food no dey
There is plenty of land but not enough food
Area boku house no dey
There is plenty of space but not enough housing
People no dey bear African name
African names are not used
People no dey think African style
African culture is not considered
People no know Africa great
People don't recognize the greatness of Africa
Everything is upside down
Things are not going as they should
Disorganize
Things are disorganized
Writer(s): Kuti Fela Anikulapo
Contributed by Parker H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@blessedbae1574
Really 9ice Fela Kuti/Sandra Izsadore beautiful collab.
Enjoy.
Upside Down Lyrics....starts @8:28
Intrumental..................
Open dat book dem call dictionary
Open am make u see
I say
Open dat book dem call dictionary
Open am make u see
Upside down dey there proper
Open am make u see
Dem recognize who work 4 show, yes
Open am make u see
Bcuz him get him meaning 2
Legs 4 down yansh 4 up
Bcuz him get him meaning 2
Legs 4 down yansh 4 up
Upside down get him meaning 2*
Legs 4 down yansh 4 up
I don travel I don see
I'm beginning to vex up 4 dis land
D thing wey I see I go talk
About upside up & downside down
4 oversee wey I see...eeeee..
Communication organize
Patapata
Agriculture organize
Patapata
Electric organize
Patapata
Dem system organize
Patapata
Dem people organize
Patapata
Dem people organize
Patapata
English man get English name
American man get American name
German man get German name
Russian man get Russian name
Chinese man get Chinese name
4 African man outside don't see
I'm beginning to vex up 4 dis land
I no to travel anywhere
Everything dey under my nose
4 African man outside don't see
Fillings boku road no dey*
Land boku food no dey
Area boku house no dey
Pple no dey bear African name
Pple no dey think African style
Pple no know Africa gr8
4 African man outside don't see...........
Communication disorganize
Patapata
Agriculture disorganize
Parapata
Electric disorganize
Patapata
Everything's upside down
Patapata
Everything's upside down
Patapata
Disorganize
Patapata
Disorganize
Patapata
Everything Upside down 2ce
Disorganize
Patapata
Disorganize
Patapata
Everything upside down 2ce
Patapata.....
Disogarnize
Patapata
Patapata
contd till fade
Instrumental....
@rotimijohn7511
Fela was ahead of his time. A fearless crusader for good governance. Rest on Legend Fela
@kingoriade5192
He said it all while alive and it's happening now... a real prophet.
@albertazzideci8413
Fela is every where...
@uygaronur3605
Everything about this song is great. True masterpiece.
@johnsuggs7828
Music from my youth. God music in the 70s and 80s was so good. Made you wanna get up and move ya feet as we said back then.
@conradsunkiojack7428
Another masterpiece from the great Fela Anikulapo Kuti . WAY back in 1970 . A top class all around talented full band in session . Grinding out an impulsive high tempo african funk jazz number . Full of soul, rock and vigour . I think this is another showcase of Fela's multi instrumental ability on both electric piano, organ and the deep alto 🎷 saxophone . Tony Allen shines a lot too with gut wrenching pounding to support the thick spellbinding tone laid down by the bassist . Rounded up by tender all female exotic chorus ensemble and the constant scintillating percussion . I just cannot stop or control my feet while my temperature rises and my heart is on full beat . Then enjoy the lyrical message too. Hell powerful !
@rahthalyricist699
What about the singer Sandra Izsadore ? The woman that gave Fela Anit kulapo Kiti his voice? You can never forget about her.
@rotimijohn7511
An evergreen masterpiece
@agresioverbal1572
It is without a doubt, my favorite song of fela!
I'll listen to it until the end!!
@abdulazizfaruq6274
Back in the late 60's and early 70's I was a Black hippie introducing the ghetto to Hendrix, Pink Floyd. Cream etc. The lyrics are responsible for naming my firstborn Hasan Atif at birth in early 1973. When asked "what's your real name?" He proudly proclaims "My father named me at birth!" Decades later I wanted to find this Upside Down and all I remembered was Fela. The internet is a tool!