In 1969, he toured with his band in Los Angeles and was introduced by a friend to the writings of Black nationalist and Afrocentrist proponents such as Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver. Inspired by what he had read, Kuti decided to write more political and critical music, and changed the name of his band to Nigeria 70 and later on Africa 70. After Fela and his band returned to Nigeria, the group was renamed The Afrika '70, as lyrical themes changed from love to social issues. Sometimes his albums were credited as Fela Kuti & the Africa 70, Fela Ransome Kuti & the Africa 70, Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Africa 70, Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Afrika 70, or Fela & Afrika 70..
The musical style of Felá is called afrobeat, a style he largely created, which is a complex fusion of Jazz, Funk, Ghanaian/Nigerian High-life, psychedelic rock, and traditional West African chants and rhythms. Afrobeat also borrows heavily from the native "tinker pan" African-style percussion that Kuti acquired while studying in Ghana with Hugh Masekela, under the uncanny Hedzoleh Soundz.The importance of the input of Tony Allen (Fela's drummer of twenty years) in the creation of Afrobeat cannot be overstated. Fela once famously stated that "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat".
Afrobeat is characterized by a fairly large band with many instruments, vocals, and a musical structure featuring jazzy, funky horn sections. A riff-based "endless groove" is used, in which a base rhythm of drums, shekere, muted West African-style guitar, and melodic bass guitar riffs are repeated throughout the song. Commonly, interlocking melodic riffs and rhythms are introduced one by one, building the groove bit-by-bit and layer-by-layer. The horn section then becomes prominent, introducing other riffs and main melodic themes.
Fela's band was notable for featuring two baritone saxophones, whereas most groups were using only one of this instrument. This is a common technique in African and African-influenced musical styles, and can be seen in Funk and Hip hop. Fela's bands at times even performed with two bassists at the same time both playing interlocking melodies and rhythms. There were always two or more guitarists. The electric West African style guitar in Afrobeat bands are paramount, but are used to give basic structure, playing a repeating chordal/melodic statement, riff, or groove.
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 also very long, at least 10–15 minutes in length, and many reaching the 20 or even 30 minutes, 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 Africa. His LP records frequently had one 30-minute track per side. Typically there is an instrumental "introduction" jam part of the song, perhaps 10–15 minutes long, before Fela starts singing the "main" part of the song, featuring his lyrics and singing, in which the song continues for another 10–15 minutes. Therefore on some recordings one may see his songs divided into two parts, Part 1 (instrumental) followed by the rest, Part 2.
His songs were mostly sung in Nigerian pidgin English, 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, electric 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 "On-the-Ground" Spiritual Game. Fela attempted making a movie but lost all the materials to the fire that was set to his house by the military government in power. Kuti thought that art, and thus his own music, should have political meaning.
Zombie
Fela Kuti & Africa 70 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go (zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell 'em to stop (zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell 'em to turn (zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell 'em to think (zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go (zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell 'em to stop (zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell 'em to turn (zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell 'em to think (zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
Tell them to go straight
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell 'em to go kill
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell them to go quench
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Go and kill (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and die (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench (joro, jaro, joro)
Put 'em for reverse (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and kill (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and die (joro, jaro, joro)
Put 'em for reverse (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and die (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench (joro, jaro, joro)
Go and kill (joro, jaro, joro)
Put 'em for reverse (joro, jaro, joro)
Uh-huh
Joro, jara, joro
Zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
Zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
Zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Halt (zombie)
Order
Whoa
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Halt
Order
One more time, everybody
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Attention (zombie), quick march
Slow march (zombie), left turn
Right turn (zombie), about turn
Double up (zombie), salute
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
Fall in (zombie), fall out
Fall down (zombie), get ready
Halt
Order
Dismiss
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
Zombie, zombie
The song 'Zombie' by Fela Kuti is a satirical attack on the Nigerian military regime of the time. The use of the term “zombie” refers to the soldiers as mindless beings, who simply obey orders without questioning them. The repetition of the phrase “zombie no go…” emphasizes the lack of agency of the soldiers, who are portrayed as having no ability to think, turn or stop unless ordered to do so. The percussion-heavy track, with its hypnotic rhythm and relentless beat, serves to underscore the idea that the soldiers are in a trance-like state.
The chorus also includes the lines “tell them to go kill”, “tell them to go die”, and “tell them to go quench”, alluding to the deployment of the soldiers to suppress and violently quell any form of dissent. The song is a warning against the dangers of blind obedience to authority and the ease with which people can be manipulated into committing acts of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Zombie o, zombie (zombie o, zombie)
The zombies are coming and they are obedient to their master.
Zombie no go go, unless you tell 'em to go (zombie)
Zombies do not move unless their master commands them to do so.
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell 'em to stop (zombie)
Zombies keep moving and do not stop unless their master commands them to do so.
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell 'em to turn (zombie)
Zombies will keep moving straight unless their master guides them in a different direction.
Zombie no go think, unless you tell 'em to think (zombie)
Zombies are mindless and will not use their own judgment unless their master directs them.
Tell them to go straight
A joro, jara, joro
The master orders the zombies to move forward in an unthinking manner.
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
The zombies do not take breaks or think for themselves, they simply follow orders like automatons.
Tell 'em to go kill
A joro, jara, joro
The master commands the zombies to attack and kill without any concern for the consequences.
Tell them to go quench
A joro, jara, joro
The master orders the zombies to satisfy their thirst for killing and destruction.
Go and kill (joro, jaro, joro)
The master commands the zombies to attack and take lives.
Go and die (joro, jaro, joro)
The zombies are expendable and can die as they have no independent thought or consciousness worth preserving.
Put 'em for reverse (joro, jaro, joro)
The master orders the zombies to attack in a different direction.
Zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
The zombies only know one way, which is to follow their master's commands without questioning.
Attention (zombie), quick march
The master orders the zombies to move quickly and precisely.
Slow march (zombie), left turn
The master orders the zombies to move at a slower pace, and turn in a particular direction.
Right turn (zombie), about turn
The master orders the zombies to turn in specific directions in order to execute a particular attack.
Double up (zombie), salute
The master orders the zombies to increase their speed and pay their respects by saluting.
Open your hat (zombie), stand at ease
The master orders the zombies to remove their helmets and stand at ease, waiting for the next command.
Fall in (zombie), fall out
The master orders the zombies to line up and then disperse.
Fall down (zombie), get ready
The master orders the zombies to get into position to perform a certain action.
Halt (zombie)
The master orders the zombies to stop in their tracks.
Order
The master gives a new command to the zombies.
Dismiss
The master calls off the attack, and tells the zombies to go back to their starting position.
Zombie, zombie
A repeating refrain to reinforce the idea of the mindless, obedient zombies.
Lyrics © F.K.O. Music, BMG Rights Management, EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG VM MUSIC FRANCE, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kuti Fela Anikulapo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giovannidefelice130
Man do some research
military coup
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_coups_in_Nigeria#The_July_1966_coup
regime under:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakubu_Gowon
nigeria civil war:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War
who's using violence?
@felakuti
Hello everyone, and thank you all for watching Fela's Zombie on the "Official Fela Youtube Channel". We seen the amount of love this song gets around the world, so from us "Thank you very much :D".We would love you to continue the Fela Express on this channel by subscribing here ► https://goo.gl/8Q1pVw Take care and everyone say "Yeah Yeah" (y)
@StreamingSunrise
the new guy at work introduced me to this. thank you, fela kuti!
@chrisgreene2405
You are a musical genius
@Horus-Lupercal
You two know Kuti passed away in '97 right?
@Emzdrav
YEAH YEAH!!!
@kartelmoneyvevo3395
Fela Kuti boss world
@ulorohgrace9585
Who’s listening in 2024!!! What a master piece. Can Nigeria be worse than it is now? 😢
@oluseyeajose-adeogun2642
I swear
@bolajiadebiyi3684
I was privileged to watch Fela perform this live. Fela was the most courageous Nigerian that ever lived.
@justhuman1722
U're so lucky ❤️😭🙇🏽♀️