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Fela Ransome-Kuti Fela, politician and musician, was also a Pan-Africanist. He was a champion of African culture and was influenced by Black Power. He traveled to Ghana and came across new musical influences. He composed songs that were meant to be political attacks against the Nigerian government and a global order that systematically exploited Africa. His music was radically revolutionary. Fela Ransome Kuti was born Abeokuta In the 1970s and 1980s, Fela Ransome-Kuti became known for his brutal style of music and shrewd political declarations. Many of his songs were direct criticisms against the Nigerian government, especially the dictatorships of the military that ruled the country in the 1970s and 1980s. He also criticized fellow Africans for supporting dictatorships. Fela's rebellion against oppressive governments cost him dearly. He was beaten, arrested and even jailed several times. He once referred to himself as an “prisoner of the Kalakuta Republic” and founded his own political group called 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 who is known throughout the world. She was a teacher and an active member of the Abeokuta Women's Union. She also assisted in the organization of some of the first preschool classes in Abeokuta. She was a suffragist, and was active in the Nigerian Independence Movement. She was a close relative of the writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka. Ransome-Kuti favored Pan-Africanism and was a staunch socialist. She was a strong supporter of socialism and Pan-Africanism. Ransome-Kuti was influenced in her work by the Black Power movement and the works of Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver. She was also a member of the African Renaissance movement. The music of Fela was able in spite of his opposition to the oppressive Nigerian Government and Western culture, to earn a worldwide following. His music was a blend of jazz, Afrobeats and rock heavily influenced by American jazz clubs. He was a staunch anti-racism activist. Fela's rebelliousness against the Nigerian government landed him numerous arrests and beatings. However, this did not deter his desire to continue touring the United States and Europe. In 1984, he was snatched by the military and arrested under dubious charges. Human rights groups from around the world intervened after the incident, and the government was forced to step down. Nevertheless, Kuti continued to record and perform until his death in 1997. He was buried at the Kalakuta Cemetery, Abeokuta. The Fela Museum is located in the city. He was a musician A passionate Pan-Africanist Fela was adamant about using his music as a means of social protest. He was a critic of the Nigerian Government while inspiring activists across the globe. Fela was an African born in Abeokuta in 1938. He was the son Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, an anticolonialist and leader of the Nigerian women’s movement. His mother was also a doctor and anti-colonialist, as were his grandparents. Fela was raised to fight for the rights of the oppressed, and that became his passion in life. Fela began his career as a music teacher in 1958, following the time he quit medical school. He wanted to follow his passion for music. He began by playing highlife music, which is a popular genre that fuses African rhythms and Western instruments with jazz. He started his first group in London where he was able to develop his skills. After his return to Nigeria He created Afrobeat that combined the lyrics of agitprop with danceable rhythms. The new sound caught on in Nigeria and across the continent, and became one of the most influential forms of African music. The political activism of Fela in the 1970s put him in direct conflict with Nigerian regimes. The regime feared the power of his music to inspire people to rise up against their oppressors and change the status quo. Fela even despite repeated attempts to suppress his music, continued to make ferocious and danceable music to the end of his life. He passed away in 1997 due to complications caused by AIDS. The nightclub Fela's had in Lagos known as Afrika Shrine was always packed with people. He also built a commune, the Kalakuta Republic, which served as his recording studio, club and spiritual space. The commune also was an area for political speeches. Fela often criticized 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. Despite his death from AIDS-related complications his legacy lives on. His Afrobeat sound has influenced many artists, including Beyonce and Wyclef Jean. Jay Z also cites him as an influence. He was a mysterious person who loved music, women and having a good time however his real legacy lies in his tireless efforts to stand up for the marginalized. 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. He was a master of mixing African culture with American jazz and funk. He also utilized his music as a method to protest against Nigeria's oppressive government. Despite being subject to frequent beatings and arrests but He continued to stand up for and defend his beliefs. Fela was born into the Ransome-Kuti family, which included anti-colonialists, artists, and artists. His mother Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a educator and feminist and his father, Israel Oludotun Ransome Kuti was instrumental in forming the teachers' union. He grew up hearing and singing the classic melodies of highlife. They were a mixture of jazz standards, soul ballads and Ghanaian hymns. His worldview was inspired by the music of his father. He was determined to bring Africa and the world together. In 1977, Fela recorded Zombie. The song compared the police to a solitary mass of people who would obey orders and brutalize the people. The track ticked off the military authorities, who surrounded his home and destroyed his property. They beat everyone, including Fela's wife and children. His mother was removed from a window and died the following year from injuries she sustained during the attack. The war was the catalyst for Fela's anti-government activism. He created a commune called the Kalakuta Republic. It also doubled as a studio for recording. He also founded a political party and seceded from the Nigerian state and his songs became more centered on social issues. In 1979, he dragged his mother's coffin into the headquarters of the junta's ruling party in Lagos and was beaten. Fela was a warrior who was fearless and never bowed to the status established order. He knew he was fighting an ineffective and unjust power however he did not give up. He was the embodiment the spirit of determination and, in this way, he was truly hero. He was a man who fought against every challenge and, by doing so, changed the course of the history of mankind. His legacy continues to live even today. He died in 1997 The passing of Fela was a devastating loss to his fans around the world. Millions of people attended his funeral. He was aged 58 when he died. His family claimed that he died from heart failure that was caused by AIDS. Fela was a key person in the creation of Afrobeat, a style of music that combined 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 urged others to fight the corrupt rule of the Nigerian military regime and preached Africanism. Fela had a significant impact on the Black Power Movement in the United States. This inspired him to fight for Africa. In his later years Fela was diagnosed with skin lesions and he also lost weight rapidly. These symptoms indicated he was suffering from AIDS. He was an AIDS denier and he refused treatment, but eventually succumbed to the disease. Fela Kuti's legacy is sure to live for generations to come. Kuti's music is a powerful statement of political opinion that challenge the status quo. He was a revolutionary who aimed to change the way Africans were treated. fela attorneys used music to fight against colonialism as well as a method of social protest. His music had a profound impact on the lives of a lot of Africans and he'll always be remembered for that. Fela collaborated with numerous producers throughout his career to develop his distinctive sound. Some of the producers he worked with included EMI producer Jeff Jarratt, British dub master Dennis Bovell and keyboardist Wally Badarou. His music was a blend of traditional African beats, American funk, and jazz, which gave him a global following. He was a controversial figure in the world of music and was often critical of Western culture. Fela is known for his controversial music and his life style. He smoked marijuana openly and had numerous relationships with women. He was an activist who fought for the rights of the poor in Nigeria despite his sexy lifestyle. His music influenced many Africans in their lives and helped them embrace their own culture.