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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Knitting Factory Records

Releases

Box Set #6 curated by Idris Elba

Fela Kuti

Box Set #6 curated by Idris Elba

Vinyl Boxset / FLAC / WAV / MP3

Gentleman - 50th Anniversary

Fela Kuti

Gentleman - 50th Anniversary

Vinyl1×LP, Limited Coloured / FLAC / WAV / MP3

Shakara - 50th Anniversary

Fela Kuti

Shakara - 50th Anniversary

Vinyl1×LP, Limited Coloured / FLAC / WAV / MP3

Afrodisiac - 50th Anniversary

Fela Kuti

Afrodisiac - 50th Anniversary

Vinyl2×LP, Coloured Vinyl / FLAC / WAV / MP3

50TH Anniversary: Roforofo Fight

Fela Kuti

50TH Anniversary: Roforofo Fight

Vinyl2×LP, Limited Coloured / FLAC / WAV / MP3

50th Anniversary: Live with Ginger Baker!

Fela Kuti

50th Anniversary: Live with Ginger Baker!

Vinyl2×LP, Coloured Vinyl / FLAC / WAV / MP3

Box Set #5 co-curated by Chris Martin and Femi Kuti

Fela Kuti

Box Set #5 co-curated by Chris Martin and Femi Kuti

Boxset

50th Anniversary: London Scene

Fela Kuti

50th Anniversary: London Scene

Vinyl1×LP / FLAC / WAV / MP3

50th Anniversary: Open & Close

Fela Kuti

50th Anniversary: Open & Close

Vinyl1×LP / FLAC / WAV / MP3

Coffin For Head Of State (1981)

Fela Kuti & Egypt 80

Coffin For Head Of State (1981)

Vinyl / FLAC / WAV / MP3

Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.) (1977)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Johnny Just Drop (J.J.D.) (1977)

Vinyl / FLAC / WAV / MP3

No Agreement (1979)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

No Agreement (1979)

Vinyl / FLAC / WAV / MP3

Products

I Go Shout Plenty

Fela Kuti

I Go Shout Plenty

WAV

Why Black Men Dey Suffer?

Fela Kuti

Why Black Men Dey Suffer?

WAV

Box Set #6 curated by Idris Elba

Fela Kuti

Box Set #6 curated by Idris Elba

M.O.P (Movement of The People)

Fela Kuti

M.O.P (Movement of The People)

WAV

You Gimme Shit I Give You Shit

Fela Kuti

You Gimme Shit I Give You Shit

WAV

Box Set #6 curated by Idris Elba

Fela Kuti

Box Set #6 curated by Idris Elba

Custom Check Point

Fela Kuti

Custom Check Point

WAV

O.P. (Opposite People)

Fela Kuti

O.P. (Opposite People)

WAV

Equalisation of Trouser and Pant

Fela Kuti

Equalisation of Trouser and Pant

WAV

Fela Kuti

Open & Close

MP3

Swegbe and Pako

Fela Kuti

Swegbe and Pako

MP3

Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo

Fela Kuti

Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo

MP3