If you like podcasts, here's one for you:
Fela Kuti: Fear No Man podcast review — epic portrait of the Afrobeat pioneer
Wide-ranging new series explores the Nigerian musician’s life, loves and rebel politics
https://www.ft.com/content/2737c238-9bea-4e2e-a4e1-7d8f943ebd99
Fela Kuti – Open and Close (LP – 1971)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-open-and-close-lp-1971/
Fela’s Afrobeat song called Open & Close – a dance choreography with a lot of African vitality. […]
“Here are the twins from Ghana!”
https://amf.didiermary.fr/basa-basa-homowo-african-soul-power/
Homowo, one of Ghana’s most sought-after LPs, emerges from obscurity on a high-quality reissue.
First released in Nigeria in 1979, this LP (Homowo and also known as Basa Basa Experience – Together We Win) is a unique collaboration with Themba ‘T-fire’ Matebese, who propelled Basa Basa’s sound, inspired by Ghanaian traditional music, [...]
Oluko Imo – Were Oju Le
https://amf.didiermary.fr/oluko-imo-were-oju-le/
Caribbean Afrobeat? Oluko Imo, a multi-instrumentalist from Trinidad and Tobago, leader of the Black Truth Rhythm Band, settled in New York in the 1980s. It was during this period that he recorded “Were Oju Le” (The Eyes Are Getting Red) with the genre’s legend, Fela Kuti and his son Femi.
This nearly nine-minute track, a […]
Highlife Music of Ghana and Nigeria
https://amf.didiermary.fr/highlife-music-ghana-nigeria-60s-70s/
70s Highlife Music from Ghana and Nigeria in this documentary, unfortunately lacking all the songs and performers names. If you know, please comment below.
Post also includes "Highlife On The Move: Selected Nigerian & Ghanaian Recordings from London & Lagos 1954-66" with the 2 first ever recordings by Fela Ransome Kuti & his band The Highlife Rakers.
#60smusic #70smusic #Compilation #Documentary #FelaKuti #Ghana #Highlife #Nigeria
Fela Kuti Feat. Roy Ayers – Music of many Colours
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-feat-roy-ayers-music-of-many-colours/
Remastered version of Music of many Colours, available on black vinyl, after the rainbow vinyl was sold out.
When Roy Ayers toured Nigeria with his band as the opening act for Fela and Egypt 80 (80s), Fela Kuti and Ayers became friends and got together for this album, mixing Afrobeat and Jazz-Funk.
Cool Cats Invasion
https://amf.didiermary.fr/cool-cats-invasion-highlife/
“Cool Cats Invasion” is a classic collection (102 tracks) of Highlife, Palm-wine music & Jùjú from Nigeria & Ghana, from the 50’s & 60’s.
This compilation includes unavailable tracks by Earnest Olatunde Thomas, known as Tunde Nightingale or The Western Nightingale, as well as legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Ransome Kuti‘s first [...]
#50smusic #60smusic #Compilation #FelaKuti #Ghana #JujuMusic #Nigeria #PalmWineMusic
Fela Kuti – O.D.O.O. (Overtake…)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-o-d-o-o-overtake/
O.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake – 1990) was the penultimate album of newly recorded studio material released by Fela before he passed in 1997. Like its immediate predecessor, Beasts Of No Nation (also 1989), and its followup, Underground System (1992), the album finds Fela continuing to campaign for human rights and social change despite the [...]
Fela Kuti – Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-teacher-nonsense-live/
Fela Anikulapo Kuti (and young Femi on sax) with Egypt 80: “Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense” live in England, at Glastonbury in 1984.
About the album
This 1986 album, produced by Wally Badarou, consists of only two very lengthy tracks and was described as a message to the Nigerian government on education and poor governance. […]
Fela Kuti – Perambulator
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-perambulator/
Despite being credited to Egypt 80, “Perambulator” —backed with “Frustration”— was almost certainly recorded in January or early February 1977, years before the formation of the band.
On the original 1983 release, American trumpeter Lester Bowie, of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, was credited as guest soloist. Bowie stayed with Fela for a few weeks […]
47 years ago today, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti died from injuries sustained the previous year, when Nigerian soldiers threw her out of a second-floor window during a raid on her son Fela’s home.
The feminist and revolutionary community organiser was 77 years old.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funmilayo_Ransome-Kuti
Listen to: Coffin For Head of State https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-coffin-head-state/
Newen Afrobeat & Seun Kuti – Zombie
https://amf.didiermary.fr/newen-afrobeat-seun-kuti-zombie/
A cover of Fela Kuti’s Zombie by Newen Afrobeat with Seun Kuti. In 2018, Newen Afrobeat returns to Nigeria to share with the Kuti family and participate in Felabration Lagos for the second time. A few months later, there is a new meeting between Seun and Newen Afrobeat, this time in Santiago de Chile on […]
Opposite People by Fela Kuti & Afrika 70
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-afrika-70-opposite-people/
“Opposite People” by Fela Kuti is a rant expressing his aggravation with people who are contrary or go against the grain of the crowd.
His annoyance extends to a person who ruins the fun of a group of people dancing, or someone who is trying to speak seriously when […]
Newen Afrobeat Feat. Seun Kuti – Opposite People (live)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/newen-afrobeat-seun-kuti-opposite-people/
Opposite People with Seun Kuti and Cheick Tidiane Seck on keyboard too… This is a Fela’s cover by the Chilean band/collective Newen Afrobeat.
Cover art by Fela Kuti’s historic designer Ghariokwu Lemi.
Fela Kuti and Egypt 80 – Beasts Of No Nation (live)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-egypt-80-beasts-no-nation-live/
“Beasts of No Nation” a été produit par Wally Badarou. Fela Kuti commença à réfléchir à l’album pendant une détention pour infraction aux devises étrangères et termina la chanson à sa sortie de prison.
Il y accuse le gouvernement Nigérian et l’armée de diverses atteintes à l’égard des populations du pays. Il y évoque également [...]
Fela Kuti – Roforofo Fight
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-roforofo-fight/
Roforofo Fight refers to senseless violence: it describes 2 fools who batter themselves into the mud as a crowd gathers to watch them.
Roforofo Fight is about human intolerance towards each other. Issues that could be resolved amicably usually end up in fist fights. Sometimes such fights end up bloody or muddy. Dramatizing the scenario […]
Fela Kuti – Why Black Man Dey Suffer
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-why-black-man-dey-suffer/
On 1 January 1971, Fela changes his band’s name from Nigeria 70 to Africa 70. It is a breakthrough year for the group, which will remain the hottest attraction in Nigeria (and elsewhere in West […]
Basa Basa Soundz Feat. Fela Kuti – Dr Solutsu
https://amf.didiermary.fr/basa-basa-soundz-dr-solutsu-fela-kuti/
Ghanaian Afro-pop group, Basa Basa Soundz visited Lagos, Nigeria in 1976 to record an album at Decca Records. Afro beat legend, Fela Kuti was around the studios at that time and he liked what he heard of the band and he decided to record a track with them and it was “Dr. Solutsu.” […]
Nigeria Afrobeat Special
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nigeria-afrobeat-special/
Compilation “Nigeria Afrobeat Special: The New Explosive Sound In 1970’s Nigeria”
Burkina Faso’s President Thomas Sankara and Fela Kuti during the Panafrican Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 1987.
The Recording Academy Announces 2026 Special Merit Award Honorees: Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Cher, #FelaKuti, Paul Simon, Whitney Houston & More.
https://www.grammy.com/news/special-merit-awards-2026-grammys-honorees-recording-academy
Afrobeat Brazil
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afrobeat-brazil/
Afrobeat has seen a solid surge of support for years through multiple reincarnations amongst the underground scene in Brazil. All of the state’s capital cities have at least a band championing the movement, as musicians from diverse corners of the contemporary Brazilian music scene get inspired by Afrobeat and infuse elements into their own work. […]
Fela Kuti Box Set – The Legacy
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-box-set-the-legacy/
The Fela Kuti Box Set curated by Idris Elba is out now! In addition, a short documentary entitled “Fela Kuti: The Legacy” is available for viewing (below), revealing the Afrobeat pioneer’s cultural impact.
Directed by Kayode Thomas, it delves into the profound influence Fela had on fashion, style, and culture, as well as his impactful […]
Ezra Collective – Lady
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ezra-collective-lady/
“Our band has been paying tribute to Fela Kuti’s music since we first started releasing music,” Femi Koleoso, leader of the Afro-fusion quintet Ezra Collective, said.
A refreshing take by Ezra Collective on Fela Kuti’s 1972 classic, “Lady,” commissioned by the Fela Kuti estate, this record is part of the re-issue of Fela Kuti’s 1972 […]
Fela Kuti – Upside Down
https://amf.didiermary.fr/fela-kuti-upside-down/
From the LP “Upside Down” released in 1976 (CD release 1997).
Sandra, the woman who stood by Fela and also brought him in contact with the Black Panther during his transformation years in the United States, came back to visit a highly popular and successful Fela in Nigeria in 1976. The track was written by […]
