Beasts of Natio

Fela Kuti

Fela Anikulapo Kuti was the controversial and unapologetically political creator of Afro-beat. With his charismatic presence, he presided over a teeming collective of musicians, which frequently made him a target of the authorities in his native Nigeria. A composer, singer, and musician, Fela cited the Black Panthers as a primary influence, and his innovative style reflected the influence of both African and Western music, particularly the jazz he had absorbed during a visit to the U.S. in the late 1960s. In live performances, he filled the stage with dancers, singers, and musicians in glamorous, glittery costumes, and his recordings offered marathon jams riding on the crest of an unshakeable groove and Fela's scathing broadsides.