Fela Kuti - Fefe Naa Efe

[MrJamjestteo]

Can anyone tell me the name of this "wooden stick" sound instrument? cool warm and deep sound so simple but going on for 15 minutes it often creates the great feeling of continuity in some Fela's songs. cheers

[ilovemusic511]

I always wondered how long after Fela's death it would take for the world to truly listen. This man was beaten and imprisoned numerous times, by his government, with no aid or intervention. Mother killed. All for speaking his truth in his country. Now all we speak on is who can make "this" music. Music is made by experience. Creation is individual, understanding is universal. Only Fela could have done this. He left it here for us to learn from and enjoy.

[SuperQueenofAfrica]

6 heads with no tail . dont like fela

[18nnenne]

My dad told me he used to always go to the shrine all the time when he was in Naija..dat was di best hangout spot

[tewo74]

true dat!!!!!!!!!!!

[samoystein1]

I love this song. The way he pronounces the Ghanaian words is interesting. He is really a master of music. Fela makes us all proud! It is either Fela depicts the Yoruba culture so well or he has influenced Yoruba culture so much or both. He was a great musician.

[Msincognito007]

Abami Eda, Omo Iya Aje, Baba, Presido. I love you!

[hatie3]

how did he died??

[RATM44]

@hatie3 AIDS

[hatie3]

@RATM44 woooowww didnt believe it was true,thought he was injected in the prison

[vladimir1903]

Fela kuti é muito bom, cara!Música de primeira qualidade.Conheçam um pouco mais sobre essa pedra preciosa da música mundial.

[cavaleer]

This was probably his best piece to be honest. Real deep groove but very beautiful melody. Almost funky.  Fela might have the greatest intro bars. The solos are rather weak but the groove is so strong you can ignore them. haha

[sunra3000]

great song thanks got to see him in early 90s amazing

[sunra3000]

this minnesota kid raised on billie holiday jazz and deep in early 70s rock, blues, soul & r&b, heard ginger bakers' album with FELA KUTI, it hit something in me i never hear before, i had found the BEGINNING OF ALL AMERCAN MUSIC WAS IN AFRICA!!

THANK YOU, FELA KUTI, SUNNY ADE, OLATUNJI, MULATU ASTATKE, and so many more.............

[cavaleer]

@sunra3000 Sorry bro, but American music began IN AMERICA. Our structure our sound, everything is unique to us. Africa didn't have a damn thing to do with it, as Art Blakey so eloquently put it when talking about Jazz. I know you're caught up in this "race" mythology, as I once was as a youth. But the reality is so-called "Latino" music and culture are still very African. Americans have become something NEW. Neither Europe or Africa have much to do with us, all for the better to me.

[sunra3000]

@cavaleer since call & response begat blues/jazz, it all came from the ppl brought from africa, yer just turnin it like i didnt say the same thing btw ginger baker went to lagos to see fela who already was on his musical style as the film attests; im sayin the same thing you are except jazz/blues roots is ultimately africa, jes shaddup n enjoy it

[cavaleer]

@sunra3000 LOL.. Fool, there is no call and response in Blues or Jazz. Besides, are you ignorant enough to think the only peoples who used call and response lived on the land now referred to as Africa??

GERMANS use call and response. The USMC uses call and response. Ancient Greek sailors used called and response. The Chinese use aspects of call and response.

Africa is for and by Africans. AMERICA is by and for AMERICANS. It just so happens that we flattened the globe along the way. Ask Fela

[sunra3000]

@cavaleer mkay see i was makin nice, READ A BOOK maybe ya wont continue to be an ass, try MUSIC HISTORY n not makin it up on da horse yer ridin SEEYA not wastn time on pompous vituperative afrocentrists dont bother blatherin to me more I KNOW YER FULLA SHIT ROTFLMFAO

[cavaleer]

@sunra3000 LOL, not only can you not spell or speak English, or should I say AMERICAN, you're dumb as rocks. Study something before you attempt to speak with me.

[recinella999]

@cavaleer are you really ignorant? America, your United States of America is just the product of Europe, Africa, ... You're a blend of all cultures how can you say that Europe, Africa etc. have nothing to do with America. Look at you're buildings, look in musea... How many European influences are there and almost all paintings are from Europe, so why won't you think before you say that America has nothing to do with neither Europe or Africa

[cavaleer]

@sunra3000 In fact, it wasn't until Fela CAME TO AMERICA that he got he inspiration and structures for his music and philosophy.

You sound like an American, a First Blood American. If so, you will one day understand that we do not need to look to any foreign country or culture for much of anything. In fact, the world LOOKS TO US.

[Amono646]

Fela is the greatest.. "Fefe Naa Efe" .. Damirifa!

[oyees2006]

...FELA u blessed with wisdom...everytime i listen to diz track i get new meaning of da song....we can only get a photocopy never anoda original copy of u....

[ic3bonn3]

MAD RESPECT!!!! TRUE JAZZ LEGEND!!! LIKE HOW HE SPOKE IN GHANA THOUGH HE WAS NIGERIAN. ''FEFE NE EFE'' MEANS ''JUST FOR THE BEAUTY''

[RiversideIndian]

what a stanky funk!

[thisjustin3]

the first time i heard this song the lyrics were explained by fela and then it merged. it was cool.

[SOLOVIEV2000]

IT IS FOR DECENCY THAT MAKES A WOMAN HOLD HER BREASTS WHEN RUNNING, NOT BECAUSE THEY (THE BREASTS) ARE GOING TO FALL TO THE GROUND.

The Asante language uses the same word for Beauty, and Decency hence the literal translation by those just superficially familiar with the language.

I hoped this helped the user who wanted to know the meaning of the song title

[gasdemup]

some one sampled the very begging please tell me who

[MyGirlPreggers]

@gasdemup I'm going to

[eloquentonez]

@gasdemup it was tic tac and tony tetuila in fefe neefe

[ukuwayra]

Maceo Parker es a James Brown lo que Tonny Allen a Fela Anikulapo Kuti

[zcomecuca]

This is what happens when Jazz gets taken back to its place of birth.

[quietdogbite612]

@zcomecuca I wish I could like this comment a million times!!!!!

[SOLOVIEV2000]

Although literal translations have been given here, a more accurate translation is :

IT IS FOR DECENCY THAT MAKES A WOMAN HOLD HER BREASTS WHEN RUNNING. NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO FALL TO THE GROUND

[JohnMFullbright]

yeah.. yeah.. yeah.. it doesn't matter who you are, that's a phat bass line.

[limozi]

what is Fefe Naa Efe

[antibalas79]

"it is because of the beauty that is why a woman holds her breast when she runs, not because the breasts are going to fall".. its an ashanti Ghanaian proverb

[antibalas79]

this guy is just a legend. period.

[anonypossum]

what exactly are the lyrics?

i mean how is it all spelled?

i'd like to know

[Ryutai7]

Man, Fela is so expressive with his horn melodies. I enjoy that in a lot of songs they are to the rhythm and tone of the main verse. "Fefe naa, Fefe naa..."

[MsSmokesomeweed]

this is very relaxing...it calms you down and helps you get to yourself......like focusing all kinds of things that need to be put aside and everything natural to come forward...

[MultiJunction]

The Legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti (RIP )

Abami Eda . Cant compare Femi or Seun to Daddy dont get me wrong there music is good . Fela is the Originality .

[brassmartins]

this is SUPERED

[zcomecuca]

There's a version with some dialogue at the beginning. If one can find that, by all means.

[koxakis]

if i remember correct ...

its because of beauty a woman holds her breast when she runs not because its gonna fall...

might got it wrong !!

[moneymoney81]

I can kill 4 dis guy.....

[koxakis]

get a life give a life .... just a circle ...nothing special ...growing and keeping a new good life is the hard thing

[ja9zzy]

Wow! This is so nice & smoooth! The intro is slamming and tight. The instruments are tight, man!

Femi's vocals sound similar to his dad Fela's.

[vbr01]

Wow,just found this piece;this is like finding gold!

[9966442255]

africa is near italy, near napoli - fratelli soul !

[ludogovno]

@9966442255

FORZA NAPOLI DI CURVA B!!

Nice to see there are fela fans all around the world.greetings from croatia to all

FELA LIVES ON!!

[ThatsABiggon]

Damn!!!! Only discovered Fela Kuti today. this is where it is, man. Africa & African America united... Love it

[YOOTUBEDOTCOM]

hit shrine around 10 p.m, knowing fela not due till 2 am, mum says fela is the safest place , armed robbers stayed away, or came to party,then party till 6, with fela the atmosphere, no be say the breast go fall for ground

[Anengiyefa]

One of the less well known Fela songs. Absolutely brilliant!

[superpuuuper]

i just found out that afrobeat is a real cool genre^^

[YossarianTheMeerkat]

yo but check out "will o the wisp" by miles davis for some wicked ennio morricone style jazz.

[YossarianTheMeerkat]

man fela is a skilled improviser. Ennio Morricone simply isn't. Listen to power show and tell me his skill with melody and rhythm isn't virtuosic.

[markjamesmunroe]

i wasn't drawing a comparison but simply pointing out a composer that is more skilled. Again not to say Fela's music isnt amazing, because it is. And as for the "message" it has nothing to do with the skill of the composer. If this music "speaks" to you specifically thats fine but don't confuse that with the actual music. As for energy i refer you to my previous post. You feel it more because it is more simple.

[markjamesmunroe]

its not that this kind of music has "better" rythm, as it has "more simple" rythm which is easier to bob your head to or dance too. Music of the european composers bauch for example use more complex time signitures 4/hich are harder to "move" too, making it seem like they have no rythm. it just takes more training to appreciate.

[ballymo85]

Please listen to other Fela`s songs. Don`t even compare to any European composer at all. He invented a genre to accommodate his thoughts and philosophy. Don`t even compare Fela please don`t. "simple" rhythms are not something you just think out of your head. I`m yet to listen to any European composer do better than Fela. Is this what you call simple rhythm? combination of many instruments to create a sweet melody simple rhythm? Please! d reason he`s not doing it alone is because it`s complex.

[nkemoji]

bally and mark both share very good points but i must agree with mark that the rhythm is simple but Fela used music to awake sleeping nation.....yes he used 2/2 time signatures, anything more would have made it harder for the message to come across. Fela was a prophet that used music to reach out to people, almost similar to Bob Marley but man Fela was great, a genius, his instrumentals alone though lengthy, comprised of jazz, blues, calypso, drums, strings, horns, everything...rarely duplicated

[patrickbobongo]

@ballymo85 he men i am percussionniste and lisen any music and now fela for 35 years .and i tell you is to may musicien to this word ceate music europeens african and eny kind of race .music is universel

[patrickbobongo]

@ballymo85

[BigPreme]

@ballymo85 You forget one other major point. The sciences brother Fela dropped in his songs are beyond compare in the west!

[ballymo85]

Also please direct me to a better composer. I really need good music I`ll listen to anyone better than Fela that came before or during Fela. Thanks. It`s all about the music. Which other solid composer is out there? send link to video. thanks.

[markjamesmunroe]

not to get into the complexities of time signitures but fela,s beats are "simple" 2/2 most of it and its not an insult and shouldnt be viewed as a put down to his music, I love it as well. Now i have to wonder if its truly the "Music" you appreciate or if its these "thoughts and philsophies" you seem to love so much. Now as for a composer that demonstrated more "skill" Ennio Morricane from the sound track to "the mission" to "hang em high" he used more instruments in more than just one genre.

[ballymo85]

Dude, Ennio Morricane isn't as any bit close to Fela at all. They first of all different. Fela adds traditional instrumentals to his beats. The music Ennio plays to me, lacks energy. Those are the kinds of Musics that are sweet for lullabies to lore babies to sleep. I'm sorry but find someone else you can compare Fela with please. Fela's Music is made up of his message and his composing power so you can't like any better. I like both the Music and the message.

[HorneyGoat23]

he does alot with the 2/2 that is very amazing. Idk about your Ennio Morricane, on the same level as fela not in million years

[urbangold1]

I really don't know what the point of music is if you can't dance or "move" to it. I suppose it just reflects the societies in which the different genres were developed. In Africa, we dance.

[ThatsABiggon]

LOL, you must be European because only a European would make such a statement as "simple rhythm". A more fitting term would be a steady rhythm or time signature. European rhythms are not complex; they're very straightforward & boring. Changing time signature is hardly complex & usually speaks off the lack of rhythm. Listen to the the rhythm section in any African centered music. The polyrhythms alone would put any European composer to shame.

[ThatsABiggon]

"Classical" timing doesn't take training to appreciate it takes one to be enamored with meaningless froth & pretension.

[markjamesmunroe]

WOW "polyrhythms" someone got out the dictionary. I find the under-tones of racism in this thread suprising relating rhythm to melanin? (actually made me laugh) i supose you think all asians are smart and all Jews good with money. keep it up maybe you will emerge from 3rd world status on the heels of your stereotypes

[darkbluesoul]

I do think that if your culture has you singing and playing music communally from birth to death, and is the foundation of your upbringing, then you will have a deep, organic understanding of it that goes beyond training. African culture everywhere on the continent has complex drumming and rhythm, and has for many thousands of years. Why shouldn't the diaspora carry that tradition and feel, transmitted culturally? In the west, music was restricted by the church for a long time.

[fjj8]

You told him,right on!!

[Ted0ka]

yeah that rythm :D

[netteperson]

Best music comes from black people - jazz,blues,reggae or this kinda music...i love it!Why do people from countrys in the south have so much more rythem than most people in europe?damn,i got to leave germany.

[ThatsABiggon]

It's the melanin :0) I've noticed, what comes naturally for us it takes others to be trained or work very hard to attain. I have a cousin who is mentally handicapped yet his rhythm from a very early age is perfect, the same for most other African children I know. IDK.

[ThatsABiggon]

Not that I need to prove anything to anyone, but I'm just curious as to why you'd assume that I am ignorant not even knowing me. See, the punctuation smiley was indicative of a playful connotation, but being so brilliant you must've known that. No, I'm not racist just 100% in love with Black people & no one else. But if that makes me racist, so what? I don't have time to stereotype people who don't matter to me.

[ThatsABiggon]

Man, here you go w/those burdensome assumptions again; I'm from California (born & raised), but given the state of our economy we (the USA) may be joining the ranks of my family in the third world any day now. lol

BTW, I didn't spam you, wouldn't do that.

[emtee]

Nice timeless song..It has been Sampled by the NY based rapper Afu-ra in his song "poisonous taoist" and the Ghananian artiste Wanlov the kubolor in his song "Kokonsa"

[msteras]

FIYAH I LOVE THIS!!!

[r22fvr]

beautiful...just beautiful

[Joccole]

I wonder why there is not many comment on this song and it is a good song

[Joccole]

Good song. Great Fela Kuti

[Outreachat]

Original date of release, 1975; the title of the song is from a Ghanaian proverb that says it is only fashionable that a woman holds her breasts when she runs: it is not as if they will fall off!

[devyxmas]

BON BON BON, NDA SHAKA MO MO Afro Beat music like Fela!!!

UHURU!!!

UNITED STATES OF AFRICA!!!

[Arrowbagger]

Thanks for enlightening your little sister on the values of beign African and Nigerian most especially .more grease to your elbows,Nigeria needs more of our citizens like u in diaspora.what better way to learn about the mother land than from the Abami Eda himself,the Black president he that holds death in his pouch.

[winnieegee]

Unfortunately,Nigerian govt injected Aids in his pouch.

[afriqueboy2008]

you have excellent taste little brothe remind me of myself when i was your age

[Gitboomed]

Indeed...

9JA 4 Life!!!!

[devyxmas]

9ja is coo, but i feel the need to say MOOGWANDA!!! (Rwanada)

[Romans10Verse9]

I'm white and I can't get enough of Fela. It's not really a race thing. It's just some beautiful music!

[Romans10Verse9]

Haha, take it easy man. I think you read that as an aggresive response. I'm talking about music in general. I didn't turn anything into anything. You said she has too many white friends like that matters. No aggresion intended, I was just talking about music.

[Romans10Verse9]

I think that's a beautiful culture. Once again, no offense intended. I think it's a wise move what you're doing. So much props to you.

[DietseGeus]

Fela goes far beyond culture and race my friends.

[biafrancoder]

Fela Lives!!

[imclimbminds]

Afu -ra  hu ha

[micr0cosm]

Excellent....what a legend.