Added: 3 years ago
From: nineric
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  • I wonder if they used this song in the broadway show. I guess not.

  • Obasanjo=big fat stomach Yaradua=neck like ostrich haha! Fela was not an advocate of change, but change embodied. How many people can say they will stand up against a gov't? God bless his strong will!

  • Perhaps no musician better represents the political side of African music, however than Nigeria’s Fela Kuti. Born to a wealthy Western-educated family, Kuti studied jazz and classical music in London. Returning to Nigeria in the late 1960s, he not only helped create the musical style of Afrobeat, but also repeatedly attacked the Nigerian government for corruption: "Coffin for Head of State," "VIP (Vagabonds in Power)," and "Africa Stealing" landed him in jail repeatedly.

  • I ran into Fela in Amsterdam, While on tour in 1981, From a distance he looked like one of my cousins. I run up to grab him (thinking he was my cousin still) Two really big brothers tell me to stay back, and that this is Fela Kuti! I tell them he looks like my cousin. Fela comes over and gives me a big hug and says "Hey cousin!" then invites me to their waiting area. He tells me the story of how the police in Nigeria had thrown his Mom off a roof, he gave me a copy of this record.. Peace

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  • Obasanjo and Yaradua don't like this song...

  • RIP BABA you are a true legend.

  • This is my favourite fela song can even play it on keyboard dont have the music as can play ear all true dem deh do bad tings under disguise of religion!

  • And yet many people still folow these detestable religions!!!!

  • LOOK OBASANJO BEFORE ANYTHING AT ALL HE GO DEY SHOUT OH LORD OH LORD LOLOLOLOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  • long live fela!!!!!

  • Fela Kuti is alive

  • 2 Government thieves don't like this song !!!!!!!!!!

  • This songs makes me sad, I can feel the pain in the musict and makes me appreciate my life even more.

  • they do bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad things -- yes they do.

  • God bless you Fela I will call him a prophet because all he says come to pass. Look at the churches, and mosques are now business enterprise.

  • one day the president of nigeria got a brand new rolls royce, so fela bought the same car, chopped off the top and filled the inside with garbage before placing it outside the presidential palace, to say you mr president are garbage.

  • amen amen amen amen........

  • Like this song, like soo many songs, but this one is a straight one, much more are there, but this one is 5 star one, have not much, but send you all my positive energy, and please take some of my bad one too, lol.

  • this song was writting after the death of him mother...

    Brave man and valorous SOUL

  • Ransome Kuti...................Greates­t family in South west Nigeria. RIP FELA BABA.

  • my anger today is that most of this things still happens and our people dont see it that way and not even think of a change to it, how we still live in a difficult styles of life, emmigrants to foreign countries, due to lesser help from our own leaders

  • Amazing song.

  • Intelligence, strength, beauty of life and art as one bold entity, dignity for everybody and everything...

    if we need a deity at all, it would be the state of mind and way of living soaked with these elements

    that cultures built around the world

    you may call it Sun God or Mother Earth or just nothing

    these dull religions are the most effective instrument to oppress people's mind and soul

    Listen to Fela's mantra, build your shield against oppression

  • This is crucial shit. Out of the pain of his own mother's assaination at the hands of the Nigerian government. If you don't like jazz or juju just go somewhere else. The bass line is killer, the harmonics are flooring, with the use of his wives.

    Also a commentary of the Imperialistic religious systems introduced into the continent. Real rebel shit 100%., but in characteristic artistic flair....this is Fela.  Black President. RIP

  • what a great jam i will listen to this song over and over again.

  • i love this song!!!!!!! i may be wrong..but i think i am the only american that understand this song

  • Africa is our future, it really is.. Imagine how better our world would be if we lived like Africans? I mean, I know there are economy and political problems over there but other than that the people are wonderful, they just love everybody.

  • Gosh what a talented man!!! A true Legend!!!

  • @Jooniebug No mucician like FELA the only one next to him is another legend Bob Marley. May their soul rest in perfect peace

  • looku Obasanjo ... before any time at all ... he go dey say oh lord ..oh ..oh lord ...oh mighty lord ...and dem dey do bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad tings!!! Abame Eda ... the best that ever did it!!

  • looku Obasanjo ... before any time at all ... he go dey say oh lord ..oh ..oh lord ...oh mighty lord ...and dem dey do bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad tings!!! Abame Eda ... the best that ever did it!!

  • looku Obasanjo ... before any time at all ... he go dey say oh lord ..oh ..oh lord ...oh mighty lord ...and dem dey do bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad tings!!! Abame Eda ... the best that ever did it!!

  • @RELIAQUOTE you are right and that is why I named him more than a prophet. He is truly Abami Eda that is a strange human being. He is a supernatural man.

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  • unbelievable how he refers to Yar Adua here, and look at NOW!

    oh Fela

  • Who is or was yar Adua?

  • The present President of Nigeria, now ailing in a Saudi Arabian hospital. His term did not satisfy the nation.

  • No not that Yar Adua. the one who is ailing now is the younger brother of Shehu who he is referring to and has been dead for over 16 years.

  • @PeaceAndJustice357 Shehu Yar'dua that fela talked about is the brother of the for president of Nigeria who died last year. His brother shehu was part of the military government in Nigeria when they killed Fela's mom.

  • baba 70. you were indeed a prophet.

  • i have sooo much love for this song.

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  • what is wrong with all of you?grow!

  • A bit like Bin Ladin. To d point of even getting his mum killed n properties destroyed n being imprisoned more buy Mcdonald's burger each week.

  • The Base in this tune, meehnn its HEAVY!!!!

  • rest in peace

  • fela i feel you,carry go.now it worsth than then may your soul rest in peace.

  • FELA is our PROPHET (cameroun)

  • Still more than actual. For 30 years, the situation in Africa was very bad. Today it's much worse!

  • God Bless the King of African Music!!!!!!!!!

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  • if not for his life style he wouldnt be inspired like this. check his words and life they are all based on the things he has seen and experienced

  • Wavecurve...U can't understand..No need for me to even start ...Trust me In due time ...A whole Iroko tree starts off as a small plant and as time passes..It grows strong roots into the soil..Fela's memory is marinating ..Historians are taking note..Our grandchildren will be so proud to read about such a GREAT son of AFRICA..His message..So prophetic..He left an indelible mark on my generation..Yes, I be omoFela...the same ones dem call amugbo ..So what's new.Long live Anikulapo ..

  • Your love for Fela has blinded you to some truths. I live in Toronto, and I travel often to the U S and Europe, and I can tell you that no radio station has the patience to play such long running tracks like Fela's music. If Fela had shortened his tracks, he would have received much more airplay and would have had more global recognition than he did in his life time. Of course, posterity would hear about Fela's greatness. Posterity will also hear about all the crazy  stuff Fela did.

  • Wavecurve.U are the one with blinders .When the susbstance of your argument is about airplay.How much content can be done in 4-5 minutes.That's why i said you can't understand.Fela's Music was never designed to be played in a short time span.Fela's pieces run anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.Let me also ask you tDo you listen to classical music.How long do you think they run .Mozart,Bach ,Do they get airplay on commercial radio -NO are they musical legends or Not-Yes..Go figure !!!

  • You like to go on tangent. Let me write very S-LO-W-L-Y so that you will understand. The classical gems you listed mostly acquired universal renown long after their demise. That is my argument, that Fela did not get the universal and global recognition that his talent deserved, because Fela did a few things wrong. Mention Bob Marley in any part of the world, and people will recognize him. Fela does not have such universal renown, yet Fela was more talented than Bob Marley, by far!

  • My broda,It seems like the grey matter between your ears dey erode gradually.There is a proverb that simply states that sooner or later "a stutterer" will call Baba '.Bbbb aab aaa baa baba.Ope titi akalolo a pe Please tell me if you've never done anything wrong.-Hypocrite..Fela LIVED.his life as he saw fit.maybe that's what you need to do - Get a LIFE !!!...One more thing,I see that you can't stay focused during the course of a disagreement .U remind me of the character in . " JJD"...

  • Clearly, you lack the intellectual capacity to sustain a reasoned argument, so you resort to hurling insults. You wrote that "Fela LIVED his life as he saw fit.".  That is the point: Fela's riotous lifestyle was some times distasteful, and often directed focus away from his exceptional musical talent. Also, by refusing to shorten his tracks, he denied himself international airplay that would have further ensured global and universal recognition. I wish I had more space to further school you.

  • It's unfortunate that you felt insulted by a statement of fact.- I beg check your inflated ego,.but I still think you need to get a life though The fact remains that you are entitled to your opinion no matter how ludicrous it seem. There's something called " Cause and Effect"..It seems to me that you are still wet behind the ears...The conditions under which these songs were created gives credence to the defiant attitude...Some of your folks ran away with their tails in between their legs

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  • Sorry I had to jump in...but I live in Toronto too and yes they do play Fela on the radio, u cant expect to hear Fela's music on GARBAGE station like Flow 93.5 or Z 103.5

    next time try the multicultral stations like CKLN 88.1 or CHRY 105.5 where they do play some of Fela's hits. Even back in Feburary for Black History month they had a decication to Fela Kuti and played Fela music song all day.

  • I know that CKLN 88 and other ethnic stations do play Fela's music, but the mainstream stations hardly know Fela. Would you say that mainstream stations are unaware of Bob marley?

    That is exactly my point ! Fela is an ethnic Hero, but Bob Marley, for instance, is a GLOBAL icon. Yet, Fela is more talented than Bob Marley.

  • Marley may have been a better singer, Fela was, overall, more talented. I am not being a biased Nigeria; I really love Bob: In the Reggae movement in those days in Uniben, Bob Marley was our symbol and guiding spirit, I wrote several analytical essay on Bob and his songs. When I joined the Diplomatic corp, I continued my celebration of Marley, prompting Rita Marley to visit me at the High Commission. We we hung out a bit. So, I am not biased against Bob. But reggae is easy. Fela had a Orchestra!

  • @Wavecurve .....My parents are Jamaican immigrants, and I have always believed that Fela was much bigger than Bob...and I'm sure that Bob...was a fan of Fela's...I say this because Chris Blackwell wanted to work with Fela...but Fela was more focused on the Continient....Peace..

  • This is a reply to both you and ZapatistasForever. I love Marley n everybody love n respect Marley and I can differentiate these two legends musically, socially, personally, righteousness, humility, rootsy, love of mankind n common folk etc but one thing I can give Fela repsect for more is the FACT that he hails from middle class rich family n could have settle for easy life playing praises music for these corrupted Nigeria's regimes n leaders but he say fuck it! Am a rebel.

  • Fela did not write or play his music for fame, this guy was offered alot money to play his music but most time he refused, Fela chose to live a simple life amongst his people (as well as his sons)

    Fela wrote his music for us.....

    If anything its the Black people who need to recognize him.

    "you africans please listen to me as africans and u non africans please listen to me with open minds" fela kuti - suffering and smiling

  • Most artistes practice their art for the Love of the art. But adequate compensation comes to the very talented artistes. The notion that Fela was indiferent to wealth or fame is Romantic, but false. Fela's daughter is on record on youtube discussing Fela's painful poverty as well as Fela's fight with pirates who illegally pressed and sold his records. Fela knew the pirates were denying him rightful income. Fela's talent was such that he could have afforded anything. He was Africa's Gem!

  • if u've taken time to study his life style you would notice that fela was against any criminal act......he wouldnt be addressin d govt in his songs if he was thinkin of gettin income bcos his life was at risk for that so for him fightin pirates was just one of his fight against corruption

  • your missing a two hs' shuffering and smiling lol

  • @shukti0 he lived in some sort of royal city and married 27 women. he saw himself as a king and wanted to be president. he wasnt a humble man. he was ambitious and loved power

  • @atirisdes "he lived in some sort of royal city" Lagos is the most overpopulated city in the most overpopulated state of Africa "he saw himself as a king and wanted to be president" and who the fuck would blame him after how corrupted their prime minister is over there, did you hear what the African Army did to his family because of his views on freedom?? If I didn't know better, I would say you are some kind of White Supremacist racist fuckhead.

  • @shukti0 Fela is one off my idols. I born in Iran raised in Sweden. Fela was introduced to me by a half Nigerian half Finnish friend while smoking the good stuff. I will spread Fela Kuti. He will not die as long as there is a butterfly effect........

  • @Wavecurve no mainstream radio stations that is, we have a small community radio station here in dallas that has played him, as a matter of fact that is how i got into Fela's music, they have a jazz program at night and they were playing "black president" much shorter that 'coffin' or "unknown soldier" but hey it's Fela on the radio.

  • @bitchboy4000 KNON 89.3 is the shit !! First heard Fela in 1985 ! on " The African Hour " ,hosted by Kwasi. Fela had that killer Industrial-Strength Funk !

  • @Jeleosimi i dey for ur side jare ,ignore those criticizers , they are NOT WORTH A DIME ,,,FELA IS TOO MUCH ;THAT;S THE PURE TRUTH ....HE WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEADS AND MINDS ,,YOUR GOOD WORK CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN;;SO WHAT CAN I SAY TO OUR GREAT FELA ; A PEACEFUL REST TO YOUR SWEET SOUL,AMEN

  • It's not that Fela Kuti made some great statements against corruption, greed, western religion, and for greater unity in the world, he was just SO DAMN FUNKY as well!

  • got hold of his nom de plume articles under "chief priest say" he wrote for nigerian daily papers.

    he was more than just a person, Fela is very high on a list that comprises the likes of Biko, Pac, Marley,Sobukwe,Mandela and all those who had characteristics of prophetic nature in generations of our life time

  • we have lost a great son of the soil

  • i really want know the date in 197???? and month did fela took his mom cofin to dodan barack and to alake of egbaland

  • 1978 or 1979

  • I don't remember the exact year, cos I was a young then, but I saw the coffin with my eyes. It hung in front of Dodan Barracks.

  • U were like 4 or 5 yrs old then ..Na omo kekere we dey call dem ..Send dem go buy cigar come from mallam. Thanks for the nostalgia !!!

  • What a tune just discovered it

  • That's fucked up how they killed Fela's mom. It made him stronger and more determined to keep fighting that fucking corrupt government he existed within. Imagine if they had allowed Fela to run for president....

  • Sublime. Thanks for the up, pity about the first half. More people should be listening to this.

  • This is pure trans

  • That sax intro is too good. Just learnt it on my guitar and I can't stop now. This is still my favourite Fela song, along with Trouble sleep. Great music.

  • wow, on your guiar huh? You should post a video. I think many would appreciate seeing it.

  • awesome

  • Many thanks to Moorish Feast for introducing me to this track, and also to Chicken Bourek. :D

  • Aaaaaaw, those are my favorite parts of the song. however, I had never heard that sax intro in any of the versions I ever heard.

    Good job.

  • potent

  • The zombies threw his mom out of a window, scandalous. Thanks for this video, R.I.P Fela you will 4ever live on through your music.

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