Fela Anikulapo Kuti, who died in 1997, was a popular musician and political activist regarded as the principal innovator of afrobeat, a genre of music that combines West African music with American funk and jazz. He used his music to satirise corrupt leadership in power, making him an unrepentant critic and hater of military regimes. His patriotic labour towards a better Nigeria through his fiery and sarcastic style of music remains an asset the country will cherish forever.
Fela's music career was marked by radicalism, especially in the 1970s, when he became a target of the military. In 1970, he founded the metaphorical Kalakuta Republic and declared it independent from military rule. The republic was destroyed in a raid that injured him and his mother, who never recovered from the fatality. Despite this, Fela continued his radicalism through music up to 1984 during the regime of General Muhammadu Buhari, who jailed him for 20 months.
Fela's music was popular among Africans, but it was unpopular with the government, leading to frequent raids on his Kalakuta Republic. In 1977, he and his Africa 70 Band released an album titled Zombie, which criticised the Nigerian soldiers. The album's success infuriated the government, culminating in the fracas at his Kalakuta Republic, leading to the burning down of the shrine and the death of his mother.
Fela's activism extended beyond music. In 1978, he married 27 women, many of whom worked for him as dancers, composers, and singers, in one day. The marriage aimed to protect him and his wives from authorities' false claims that he used to kidnap women. He also organised two concerts, one in Accra, which led to a riot, and another after the Berlin Jazz Festival.
Fela's presidential ambitions were thwarted when he was refused candidature in 1983. He had formed a political party called Movement of the People (MOP) and created a new band called Egypt 80, reflecting his view that Egyptian civilisation and religious systems were African and must be claimed as such. His radical world view towards what was happening in the country made him a potent soft power figure in Africa.
Nearly three decades after his death, Fela was inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame for his classic album, Zombie. He joined the likes of Jay Z, late Michael Jackson, and several others who belonged to the exclusive league of the Grammy Hall of Fame. Fela remains the first and only Nigerian artiste to receive the honour.
Columnist Ademola Oshodi described Fela as Nigeria's most enduring soft power asset, saying his music, activism, and global recognition shape perceptions of Nigeria far beyond its borders. Oshodi added that Fela's defiance against authoritarianism captured in his art resonates with democratic ideals and gives Nigeria moral authority in global conversations on justice and freedom.
Key points
- Fela Anikulapo Kuti was inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame for his classic album, Zombie.
- He was a tireless activist who led the fight against military juntas in Nigeria and inspired opposition to the Apartheid regime in South Africa.
- Fela's music and activism continue to shape perceptions of Nigeria and give the country moral authority in global conversations on justice and freedom.
