Story 1938 Olufela Olusegun Oludoton Ransome-Kuti - Fela - is born on 15 October in Abeokuta, a town fifty miles north of Lagos. 1946 Fela begins learning the piano, encouraged by his father, who believes studying music is an essential part of a good education. 1954 On a visit to Lagos, Fela meets Jimo Kombi Braimah, known to everyone as JK, who will become his life-long friend and confidant. 1955 Fela’s father, Reverend Israel Ransome-Kuti, dies. 1958 Fela leaves Abeokuta for London. His parents had hoped he would study to become a doctor but Fela is determined to continue with music. 1959 Fela forms his first group, Fela Ransome-Kuti and His Highlife Rakers. The band record four sides for Melodisc, one of Britain’s first independent African and Caribbean music labels. 1960 Fela disbands the Highlife Rakers and forms Koola Lobitos, which has a line-up of West African and Caribbean musicians. 1961 Fela marries Remi. His first daughter, Yeni, is born. 1962 Fela graduates from Trinity College of Music. His first son, Femi, is born. 1963 Fela forms the first edition of the Fela Ransome-Kuti Quintet. 1964 NBC hires Fela as a junior producer. Drummer Tony Allen joins his band. 1965 Fela is fired from NBC. He forms a second edition of Koola Lobitos. 1966 Koola Lobitos becomes a popular presence on the Lagos music scene. 1967 Trumpeter Tunde Williams (later a key member of Afrika 70) joins Koola Lobitos. 1968 Fela’s first album, a compilation of Koola Lobitos singles, is released. 1969 Fela and Koola Lobitos record a live album at the Afro-Spot and begin a 10-month tour in the US. 1970 Fela and Nigeria 70 record ten tracks in Los Angeles, later released in Nigeria as Fela Fela Fela. 1971 Fela changes his band’s name from Nigeria 70 to Africa 70. 1972 Fela renames the Afro-Spot the Africa Shrine and brings it back to life. 1973 Fela and Africa 70 release Gentleman, the first fully formed Afrobeat album. 1974 Fela is wrongfully jailed for three days giving him material for future albums, Alagbon Close and Expensive Shit. 1975 Fela changes his last name from Ransome-Kuti to Anikulapo-Kuti (“one who carries death in his pouch”). 1976 Fela increases his involvement with the direct-action political movement the Young African Pioneers. 1977 In an unprecedentedly brutal assault, 1,000 soldiers batter their way into Kalakuta and raze it to the ground. 1978 Fela marries 27 women in a traditional Yoruba wedding ceremony in Lagos. 1979 Fela and his political party Movement Of The People are banned from contesting Nigeria’s presidential election. 1980 Fela resumes touring in Nigeria and is joined by US jazz-funk star Roy Ayers. 1981 Fela renames Afrika 70 as Egypt 80 and tours Europe. 1982 With no international record deal and an economic recession gripping Nigeria, this is a difficult year for Fela. 1983 Fela’s son Seun is born. Fela makes his first appearance at Britain’s Glastonbury. 1984 Fela is arrested and has to cancel an upcoming tour. 1985 Fela is named a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International. 1986 Fela is freed from jail. He announces that he will run for president. 1987 A series of events are held in Lagos to commemorate the 1977 attack on Kalakuta. 1988 Fela and Egypt 80 spend most of the year performing at the Shrine. 1989 Fela and Egypt 80 resume international touring, including two shows in New York with James Brown. 1992 Fela releases Underground System, which will be the final album of newly recorded studio. 1993 - 1994 Fela’s high-profile campaign for the right to smoke weed continues, as does police harassment of him and the Shrine. 1997 Fela dies. Over a million people gather to pay their final respects. News Legacy Store
