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Fela Ransome-Kuti In addition to being a musician, Fela was a political activist and a Pan-Africanist. He was a champion of African culture and was heavily influenced by Black Power. He traveled to Ghana where he found new musical influences and a new direction for his music. He wrote songs intended to be political statements against the Nigerian government, and a global order that exploited Africa systematically. His music was radically revolutionary. Fela Ransome-Kuti was born in Abeokuta In the 1970s and 1980s, Fela Ransome-Kuti became known for his brutal style of music and rebellious political statements. Many of his songs were direct critiques of the Nigerian government and the military dictatorships that took over the country during that time. He also criticised fellow Africans for supporting dictatorships. Fela's rebellion against oppressive governments cost him dearly. He was arrested, beaten and even jailed several times. He once claimed to be an “prisoner of the Kalakuta Republic” and founded his own political group, the Movement for the Advancement of the People (MOP). Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was Fela's mother. She was a feminist leader and women rights activist, known throughout the world. She was a member of the Abeokuta Women's Union and worked as an educator. She also assisted in organising the first preschool classes in Abeokuta. She was a suffragist, and was active in the Nigerian independence movement. She was a close relative of writer and Nobel laureate Wole SOYINKA. Ransome-Kuti was a proponent of Pan-Africanism, and was a staunch socialist. She argued for the preservation of traditional African practices and religions, and she opposed European cultural imperialism. Ransome-Kuti was influenced by Malcolm X, Eldridge Clever and the Black Power Movement. She was a member of African Renaissance Movement. The music of Fela was able despite his opposition to the oppressive Nigerian Government and Western culture, to garner an international fan base. His music incorporated elements of Afrobeat rock, rock, and jazz and was heavily influenced by the beats of American jazz clubs. He was also a staunch anti-racist. Fela's rebellion in Nigeria against the government led to many arrests and beatings. However, it did not deter his desire to continue touring the United States and Europe. In 1984, he was once again targeted by the military and was detained on dubious charges of smuggling currencies. The incident prompted international human-rights groups to intervene and the government to step down. Kuti however, he continued to record and perform up until his death in 1998. He was buried in the Kalakuta Cemetery, Abeokuta. The Fela Museum is located in the city. He was a musician A fervent Pan-Africanist, Fela was adamant about using his music as a means of social protest. Utilizing his funk-driven Afrobeat style, he criticised the Nigerian government, while inspiring activists from all over the world. Fela was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was the son of Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti who was a fervent anticolonialist and leader of the Nigerian women's movement. His mother was also a physician and anti-colonialist as were his grandparents. fela attorneys was raised to fight for the rights of the oppressed and this became his life's work. Fela began his career as a musician in the year 1958 after dropping out of medical school in order to pursue his love of music. He began playing highlife music, a popular genre that blends African rhythms and Western instruments with jazz. He started his first band in London and was able to refine his abilities. On his return to Nigeria He created Afrobeat that combines danceable beats and lyrics written in agitprop. The new sound was adopted by Africans and Nigerians across the continent. It became one of the most influential genres in African music. Fela's political activism in the 1970s brought him into direct conflict with Nigerian regimes. The regime feared his music's ability to motivate people to rise up against their oppressors and change the status quo. Despite repeated attempts to silence him, Fela continued to make incredible and extremely danceable music until the end of his life. He died of complications related to AIDS in 1997. The nightclub of Fela in Lagos called Afrika Shrine was always packed with people. He also established the Kalakuta republic, a commune that was used as his recording studio and club. The commune also served as a place for political speeches. Fela often critiqued the Nigerian government and world leaders such as U.S. President Ronald Reagan, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and South African Prime Minister P.W. Botha. His legacy lives on despite his death due to complications related to AIDS. His Afrobeat sound has inspired a number of artists, including Beyonce and Wyclef Jean. Jay Z also cites him as an influence. He was an enigmatic figure who loved music, women and an evening out But his real legacy is in his unwavering efforts to defend the oppressed. He was a Pan-Africanist The renowned Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a Pan-Africanist, bringing his unique musical style to the cause of the people. A master of blending elements of African culture with American funk and jazz as well, he also utilized his music to protest against the oppressive Nigerian government. Despite constant arrests and beatings, he continued to stand up for and defend his beliefs. Fela was born into the prestigious Ransome-Kuti family, which included anti-colonialists as well as artists. His mother, Funmilayo ransome-Kuti, was a teacher and feminist, while his father, Israel Oludotun ransome-kuti, was instrumental in helping form a teachers union. He grew up listening to and singing the traditional tunes of highlife, a mix of jazz standards, soul ballads, and Ghanaian hymns. This musical legacy shaped the worldview of Fela who was determined to bring Africa to the world and the world to Africa. In 1977, Fela released Zombie, a song that likened the police to a mindless horde who would follow any order, and brutalize the public. The song enraged the military authorities, who seized the house of Fela and sacked his compound. They beat everyone including Fela’s children and women. His mother was thrown out of an open window and died of injuries sustained in the subsequent attack. The invasion was the catalyst for the anti-government activism of Fela. He created a commune, the Kalakuta Republic. It also was a studio used for recording. He also formed a political party and resigned from the Nigerian government and his songs started to focus more on social issues. In 1979, he brought his mother's coffin to the headquarters of the junta ruling in Lagos and was then beaten. Fela was a fierce and unbending warrior who never accepted the status quo. He was aware that he was fighting an opponent that was unjust and inefficient, yet he did not give up. He was the epitomization of an indefatigable spirit and in this manner, he was truly hero. He was a man that defied all odds and changed the course of history. His legacy continues to live in the present day. He died in 1997 The death of Fela was a blow to his numerous fans around the world. Millions of people attended his funeral. He was at 58 when he died. His family members claimed that he died due to heart failure that was caused by AIDS. Fela was a key participant in the development of Afrobeat, a style of music that combines traditional Yoruba rhythms with jazz and American funk. His political activism led him to be detained and beaten by Nigerian police. He refused to be silenced. He propagated Africanism and encouraged others to fight corruption within the Nigerian military government. Fela was also a major influencer on the Black Power movement in the United States, which inspired him to continue fighting for Africa. In his later years Fela developed skin lesions, and he lost weight drastically. These symptoms were an obvious indication that he was suffering from AIDS. He refused to accept treatment and denied that he had AIDS. Then the disease took him away. Fela Kuti will be remembered for generations. Kuti's music is a powerful political statement that challenges the status quo. He was a revolutionist who wanted to change the way Africans were treated. He utilized his music as a tool for social protest and struggled against colonialism. His music had a profound impact on the lives of many Africans, and he'll be remembered for that. Fela worked with a variety of producers throughout his career to develop his unique sound. One of these producers was EMI producer Jeff Jarratt and British dub master Dennis Bovell. His music was a mix of traditional African beats and American funk. This gave him an international audience. He was a controversial figure in the music business and often criticized Western culture. Fela is known for his controversial music and his life style. He smoked marijuana in public and had numerous relationships with women. Despite his extravagant life, he was a staunch activist and struggled for the rights of the poor in Nigeria. His music was influential in the lives of a lot of Africans and urged them to embrace their own culture.