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Fela Ransome-KutiIn addition to being a musician, Fela was a political activist and Pan-Africanist. He was a supporter of African culture and was influenced Black Power. He traveled to Ghana where he discovered new musical influences and a new direction for his music.He composed songs meant to be political attacks against the Nigerian government as well as a global order that was systematically exploiting Africa. His music was uncompromisingly radical.Fela Ransome Kuti was born AbeokutaIn the 1970s and the 1980s, Fela Ransome-Kuti became known for his harsh style of music and shrewd political declarations. Many of his songs were direct attacks against the Nigerian government, particularly the military dictatorships that ran the country during those times. fela claims criticised fellow Africans who backed these dictatorships. Fela's rebellion against oppressive governments cost him dearly. He was beaten, arrested and jailed multiple times. In fact, he once claimed to be "a prisoner of the Kalakuta Republic." He also founded his own political party, the Movement for the Advancement of the People or MOP.Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was Fela's mother. She was a feminist leader and women rights activist who is famous throughout the world. She was a teacher as well as an active member of the Abeokuta Women's Union. She also helped organize the first preschool classes of Abeokuta. She was a suffragist, and was active in the Nigerian independence movement. She was a close kin of the writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.Ransome-Kuti was a staunch supporter of Pan-Africanism and socialism. She advocated the preservation of traditional African practices and religions and opposed European cultural imperialism. Ransome-Kuti was influenced in her work by the Black Power movement and the works of Malcolm X and Eldridge Cleaver. She was a part of the African Renaissance Movement.The music of Fela was able, even in the face of opposition to the oppressive Nigerian Government and Western culture, to garner an international following. His music was a mix of Afrobeats, jazz, and rock heavily inspired by American jazz clubs. He was also a staunch anti-racist.Fela's rebellion in Nigeria against the ruling party led to numerous arrests and beatings. However, this did not stop his desire to continue touring the United States and Europe. In 1984, he again was beaten by the military and detained under a variety of suspect charges. Human rights groups from around the world intervened following 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 in the Kalakuta Cemetery, Abeokuta. The city is now home to the Fela Museum.He was a musicianFela, a committed Pan-Africanist, believed in making music a tool of social protest. With his funk-infused Afrobeat style, he criticised the Nigerian government, while inspiring activists across the globe. Fela was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was the son of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti an anticolonialist who was a staunch leader of the Nigerian women's movement. His mother was also a doctor and anti-colonialist like his grandparents. Fela was raised to fight for the rights of the oppressed and this became his main focus in life.Fela started his career in music teacher in 1958, following the time he quit medical school. He was determined to pursue his passion for music. He began playing highlife music, a cult genre that fuses African rhythms and Western instruments with jazz. He formed his first group in London and was able to develop his abilities in the capital city of Europe. When he returned to Nigeria He came up with Afrobeat which combines lyrics written in agit-prop with danceable beats. The new style was adopted by Africans and Nigerians across the continent. It was soon one of the most influential genres in African music.Fela's political activism during the 1970s put him in direct conflict with Nigerian regimes. The regime was concerned that his music would inspire people to rebel against their oppressors and challenge the status quo. Despite repeated attempts to silence him, Fela continued to make incredible and extremely danceable music until the end of his life. He passed away in 1997 due to complications related to AIDS.When Fela was alive, crowds were always waiting to see him perform at his nightclub in Lagos, called Afrika Shrine. He also built the Kalakuta republic, a commune that served as his recording studio and club. The commune also served as a venue for political speeches. Fela often criticised 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 complications related to AIDS, his legacy lives on. His Afrobeat style has influenced a variety of artists like Beyonce and Wyclef Jean. Jay Z has also mentioned him as a source of inspiration. He was a mysterious man who was a lover of music as well as fun and women. But his most lasting legacy is his unwavering efforts to fight for the oppressed.He was a Pan-AfricanistThe 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. A master at blending elements from African culture with American jazz and funk and using his music to protest against the oppressive Nigerian government. Despite being the subject of frequent beatings and arrests but the musician continued to speak out and fight for his beliefs.Fela was raised in 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 a teachers' union. He grew singing and listening to the traditional melodies and beats of highlife - a mix of soul songs, jazz standards, and Ghanaian hymns. The worldview of Fela was shaped by this musical legacy. He was determined to bring Africa and the world together.In 1977, Fela released Zombie, an album that compared policemen to a mindless horde that would follow any order, and brutalize the populace. The song enraged the military authorities who invaded the house of Fela and sacked his property. They slayed everyone, including Fela's children and women. His mother was thrown out of an open window and died of injuries sustained in the subsequent attack.The invasion fueled the anti-government activism of Fela. He created a commune, the Kalakuta Republic. It also served as a studio for recording. He also formed 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 body to the headquarters of the ruling junta in Lagos and was beaten.Fela was a warrior who was fearless and never bowed to the status established order. He knew the injustice of fighting an ineffective and unjust power however he did not give up. He was a symbol of the spirit of determination and, in this way, he was truly hero. He was a man who stood up to the odds and changed the course history. His legacy lives on today.He died in 1997The passing of Fela has been a devastating blow to his fans around the world. Many thousands of people attended his funeral. He was aged 58 when he died. The family of the deceased claimed that he died from heart failure caused by AIDS.Fela was a pivotal figure in the development of Afrobeat, a type of music that combines traditional Yoruba rhythms with jazz and American funk. His political activism led to his arrest and beatings by Nigerian police however he refused to be silenced. He urged others to stand up against the corrupt regime of the Nigerian military regime and advocated Africanism. Fela had a significant impact on the Black Power Movement in the United States. This inspired him to continue fighting for Africa.In his later years, Fela suffered from skin lesions and dramatic weight loss. These symptoms clearly indicated that he was suffering from AIDS. He refused to receive treatment and denied he had AIDS. Then the disease took him away. Fela Kuti will be remembered by generations.Kuti's music is a powerful statement of political opinion that challenges the status-quo. He was a revolutionist who wanted to change the way Africans were treated. He used music to combat colonialism and as a means of social protest. His music played a major role in changing the lives of a lot of Africans and he will be remembered for his contributions.Throughout his career, Fela worked with various producers to create his distinct 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 mixture of traditional African beats and American funk. This brought him an international audience. He was a controversial person in the world of music and often criticized Western culture.Fela was well-known for his controversial music and life style. He smoked marijuana in public and had numerous affairs with women. Despite his raunchy life, he was a staunch activist and was a fighter for the rights of the poor in Nigeria. His music had an impact on the lives of a variety of Africans and encouraged them to embrace their own culture.