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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  • News
    • Alagbon Close 50th Anniversary
    • Box Set #5 Reissues
    • Fela Kuti Box Set 6: curated by Idris Elba
    • Red Hot + Fela
    • Shakara 50th Anniversary
    • Afrodisiac 50th Anniversary re-issue
    • Roforofo 50th Anniversary re-issue
    • Fela Kuti Box Set 5: co-curated by Femi Kuti & Chris Martin
    • FELABRATION 2021: VIVA NIGERIA, VIVA AFRICA
    • 2021 50th Anniversary Releases
    • Let's Start in the trailer for The Harder They Fall
    • 50th Anniversary of Open & Close available for Record Store Day 2021
    • Fela's legacy celebrated with new scholarship at Trinity Laban
    • Regular Trademark: the official Fela Kuti merch line
    • Music of Many Colours Now Available On Vinyl
    • Sandra Izsadore and Fela
    • Fela Nominated for Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
    • Fela Kuti x Online Ceramics Collaboration
    • Sorrow Tears and Blood (Edit) out now
    • Zombie (Edit) out now
    • "I Go Shout Plenty" now available digitally
    • Fela Kuti honored by Carhartt WIP collection
    • Fela Kuti Box Set #4 individual titles now available
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  • Legacy
    • Felabration
    • New Afrika Shrine
    • Kalakuta Museum
    • The Fela Anikulapo-Kuti Scholarship
    • Fela's Children
    • Collaborations
    • Film
    • Fela, The Musical
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Live in Detroit (1986)

Fela Kuti

Live in Detroit (1986)

CD2×CD / FLAC / WAV / MP3

No Agreement  (1979)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

No Agreement (1979)

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

Coffin For Head Of State (1981)

Fela Kuti & Egypt 80

Coffin For Head Of State (1981)

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Yellow Fever (1976)

Fela Kuti

Yellow Fever (1976)

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V.I.P. Vagabonds In Power (1979)

Fela Kuti

V.I.P. Vagabonds In Power (1979)

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Music of Many Colours (1980)

Fela Kuti

Music of Many Colours (1980)

Vinyl1×LP / FLAC / WAV / MP3

Na Poi (1976)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Na Poi (1976)

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

Beasts Of No Nation (1989)

Fela Kuti & Egypt 80

Beasts Of No Nation (1989)

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Confusion (1974)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Confusion (1974)

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Fear Not For Man (1977)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Fear Not For Man (1977)

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Live With Ginger Baker (1971)

Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Live With Ginger Baker (1971)

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Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense (1986)

Fela Kuti

Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense (1986)

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