Holiday Sale - Fela Kuti

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

20% OFF SELECT MUSIC

Confusion (1974)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Confusion (1974)

Africa for Africa

Femi Kuti

Africa for Africa

Legacy +

Femi Kuti & Made Kuti

Legacy +

Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense (1986)

Fela Kuti

Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense (1986)

Na Poi (1976)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Na Poi (1976)

Red Hot + Fela

Various Artists

Red Hot + Fela

Live in Detroit (1986)

Fela Kuti

Live in Detroit (1986)

Stalemate (1977) / Fear Not For Man (1977)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Stalemate (1977) / Fear Not For Man (1977)

Excuse-O (1975) / Monkey Banana (1975)

Fela Kuti

Excuse-O (1975) / Monkey Banana (1975)

Fear Not For Man (1977)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Fear Not For Man (1977)

Army Arrangement (1984)

Fela Kuti

Army Arrangement (1984)

Legacy +

Femi Kuti & Made Kuti

Legacy +

20% OFF SELECT MERCH

Microphone Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Fela Kuti

Microphone Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Black Is A Force Of The Mind Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Fela Kuti

Black Is A Force Of The Mind Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Fela 4/20 Shirt

Fela Kuti

Fela 4/20 Shirt

Xpensive Shit T-shirt White

Fela Kuti

Xpensive Shit T-shirt White

Fela Sticker

Fela Kuti

Fela Sticker

Yeye De Smell T-Shirt White

Fela Kuti

Yeye De Smell T-Shirt White

Microphone Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Fela Kuti

Microphone Long Sleeve T-Shirt

Roforofo Fight T-Shirt

Fela Kuti

Roforofo Fight T-Shirt

Socks

Fela Kuti

Socks

Shakara T-shirt

Fela Kuti

Shakara T-shirt

Yeye De Smell T-Shirt Black

Fela Kuti

Yeye De Smell T-Shirt Black

Montage Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Fela Kuti

Montage Short Sleeve T-Shirt