In addition to playing several instruments, this composer and human rights activist revolutionised African music by introducing funk and blues rhythms to highlight the afro-beat style.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti was born on 15 October 1938 in the Nigerian city of Abeokuta, in the heart of a Christian family. he moved to London in 1958 to study Medicine, but he later decided to enrol at Trinity College of Music. He formed the band known as Koola Lobitos, with which he began to define the afro-beat style.

In 1963, he returned to Lagos, after obtaining in England a clear vision of his country´s situation and that of the African continent in general. Afterwards, Fela, along with his band, travelled to the United States, where he discovered the Black Power movement and the Black Panthers, which decisively influenced his music and his political ideals. He renamed his band Africa 70.

After his American journey, he returned to Nigeria and created the Republic of Kalakuta, a cooperative music production company where activists searching for independence tended to meet. In 1970, he stepped into the recording studio to create Buy Africa. As his popularity grew, he began to experience official persecutions because of his political ideals.

In 1977, Fela and Africa 70 launched one of their most successful records, Zombie, which was a direct attack against Nigerian soldiers. The record´s success led the Nigerian government to attack the singer and his band.

He created his own political party, the People´s Movement, and in 1979, he ran for president, but his candidacy was rejected. At this point, he formed a new band which he named Egypt 80, and he continued to record music and tour throughout his country.

In the 1990s, he became less active and stopped recording music. His death was announced on 02 August 1997 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Sources:

• Wikipedia

• Fela Kuti´s biography at Afrocaribe.iespana.es

Additional information:

• Website about the singer

• Article about Fela Kuti in the El País newspaper

• Consult the availability of records at the Casa África Media Library