My image of Fela was at his lying in state at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos in 1997. Images of thousands of loyalist trying to reach his casket just to touch it like some messiah who had just passed away. I said to myself, all the Pastors and Imams had vilified him as a negative figure, who are these thousands mourning his death. Fast forward 25years and listening carefully to his songs, apart from being very creative, Fela said things alot of the Pastors and Imams were scared to say back then(and till date) because of the fear of what they stood to lose. Fela was a true Nigerian treasure. Rest in Peace BABA.
When I was a teenager, I used to dislike the instrumentals at the beginning of Fela's song; I just wanted to sing along. But now, those instrumentals at the beginning are the best for me; so soothing and calming.
that's probably when you are young, you want to do something in the world, because your energies are high and everyone feels like they should do something. When you grow up, energies stagnate and you start perceiving life differently, you want to settle down, have a family and just be with them and enjoy your peace.
I grew up with Fela Anikulapo-Kati (AKA Baba 70) during my High School years in Lagos, Nigeria. His shrine at Oju-Elegba was my popular hangout on weekends (without the knowledge of my parents). Fela was a great Philosopher ahead of his time. Most of his predictions were not taken serious by the Nigerian Government back then, this explains some of our Economic and Social problems in Nigeria. I am in my fifties now and Fela remains my hero. RIP Baba 70. From: Abayomi Pratt (Ontario, Canada)
Moses Pratt, Anikulapo-Kuti (Fela) remains a musical icon. The depth and fluidity of his ensembles resonate, to this day. That's why he is on Broadway here in New York and beyond.
The craziest things I have seen in music, all my life is the combination of Afrobeat instruments without vocals for more than an hour. I pay tribute to Afrobeat legend late Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Co Founder the late Mr Tony Allen (The Master Drummer).
Today ,I was watching who can becoming a Rock&Roll HoF this year and discovered this . For a hiphop head like me this music.. feels like home. I can dance , relax and put it on background. It's the first time i have heard of Fela Kuti and after an hour of listening to Fela i feel blessed.
Yoooo my friend check a song named GROWN MAN SPORT by INI, Pete Rock made a really dope beat with a sample of a Fela kuti's song named water get no enemy, just a small piano sample used in a cool Way to made a whole new song in a new style, also the vocals and lyrics are on point, actually its one of my favorite hop hop songs Right know, i was hearing that fela's song and then I hear and notice the sample, it was a fun moment haha peace
No one has ever talked truth about Africa like this guy. In Kenya its worse, frequent borrowing and mismanagement of borrowed funds. Can president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya listen to this track. Fela Kuti thanks for your teachings and truth RIP.
Even here in Nigeria. It's everywhere my brother, things get bad and worse yearly, so sad. From cost of feeding, cost of living, retrograded educational sector, retrograded health sector, public office abuse, to regular hike in products prices in the market and so many more my brother.
I discovered this wonder of the world when I lived in Nigeria for a year. He was no doubt ahead of is time and a prolific orator. Sorry to hear of his death. But he will be long remembered for is energy, political prowess, and being an end time prophet. RIP dear Universal Warrior.
I'm an American born in NY I'm just now learning about Fela Kuti from my comrade who is from Nigeria who is in the US Army and he put me on this guy I love the beat and his message
Your mans had no business grooving to Fela, Cos Fela was a staunch anti-imperialist and a staunch African man to the core.. He regularly sang against armies and law enforcement agencies cos he felt they rode for the 'MAN'!! The U.S Army as well as all other armies(including the Nigerian Army) were regular targets of Fela's ire .... He regularly targeted them because he felt they were doing the European's bidding, same way the U.S Army were enforcers for the USG
He was a prophet who was years ahead of his peers in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. A true African legend who is second to none. Abami Eda lives for ever.
I appreciate the creativity many of the new artists in Nigeria are displaying but when I listen to tracks like this, I begin to entertain the thought that perhaps, our musical story is going back in time. Fela, like many of his counterparts, understood arrangement. Thank you for the upload.
I've always been a fan of Fela and recently I delved into his ingenuity when I connected with this fantastic musical peace of work in a way I never did. It sang into my Yoruba folklore of a horseman going gallantly on his horse and all I could hear was the galloping theme - Kutupa Kutupa Esin dondo...of the horse at different pace. When Fela suddenly shouted Ku-tu-pa Ku-tu-pa (eeeeeehhh) - I melted. Eleeniyan, chief priest, Baba '70....now you see how you have raised the musical conscience of those you left in this wonderful world. Rest on in peace Baba.🥰❤❤💪💪💪
Teaching us to forget 2000 years of bad éducations thanks abami eda you have a special place in my heart if you are here in 2021 thum up and remain blessed
he is gone but his voice and music still keep inspiring alot of people like me. He is a blessing. I am always in a happy mood when i listen to fela Baba fela thank you.
TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURER BE YOUR NAME TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURE BE THE SAME MAKE-EE NO TEACH-EE ME AGAIN OH AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY-O AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY-O ME AND YOU NO DEY FOR THE SAME-U CATEGORY NA THE SAME CATEGORY-O Let's get down, to the underground spiritual game We all sing together, play music together in happiness All you have to do is sing what I play on my horn Now Let's go... A kujuba, A kujuba YE-EHHHH! Yehhhhhh-Ey! Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-ke, Ke-re-Ji-Ke-Ke YAA! Ke-re-ke Ji Ke-ke YAA! Ke-re-ke Ji Ke-ke YAA! Ke-re-ke-Ke Ji Ke-ke YAA! All the wahala, all the problems, All the things, all the things they go do, For this world go start, When the teacher, schoolboy and schoolgirl jam together Who be teacher? I go let you know When we be pikin FATHA/ MAMA BE TEACHER When we dey for school TEACHER BE TEACHER Now dey University LECTURER BE TEACHER When we start to work GOVERNMENT BE TEACHER CU-ULTURE AND TRADITION (*after each line) Who be government teacher? Who be government teacher? Cu-ulture and tradition Cu-ulture and tradition Now the problem side, of a teaching student-ee I go sing about I don pass pikin, I don pass school, university, se-fa pass As I don start to work, na government I must se-fa pass Da go for France YES SIR/YES MAAM (*after each line) Engi-land Italy Germany Na dem culture For der Be teacher For dem Go China Russia Korea Viet Nam Na dem culture For der Be teacher For dem Go Syria Jordan Iran Iraq Na dem culture For der Be teacher For dem Let us face ourselves for Afrika Na de matter of Afrika This part-ee of my song Na all the problems of this world In we dey carry, for Afrika Wey no go ask-ee me WHICH ONE? (*after each line) Problems of inflation Problems of corruption Of mismanagement Stealing by government Nothing we dey carry All over Afrika Na de latest one Na him dey make me laugh AUSTERITY (*after each line) Austeri- Austeri- Na him dey latest one Na him dey make me laugh Why I dey laugh? Man no fit cry? Who be our teacher na Oyinbo? Who be our teacher na Oyinbo? A na false, the first election And the second election held in Nigeria Na the second election na it was pass BOBA LA NONSENSE (*after each line) Boba la nonsense Boba la nonsense He pass redeem He pass corruption Which kind election be dis? People na go vote Dem come get big big numbers Thousands to thousands Millions to billions Which kind election be dis? Boba la nonsense Na dem-o-cr-azy be the deal Na dem-o-cr-azy be the deal Who don teach us ee dem-o-cr-azy? (Bo-ptch!) Oyinbo teach-ee us (Yuh-ngh!) Oyinbo for Europe-oh Oyinbo teach us many many things-ee Many of dem things I don sing about-ee Me I no gin copy Oyinbo style Let us think say, Oyinbo no pass me When Shagari finish him elections Wey dem no tell am, say him make mistake-ee Say this yo, no be democracy Oyinbo dem no tell army self Na for England-ee, I me no fit take over I come think about this demo-crazy Democrazy DEMO-CRAZY (*after each line) Crazy demo Demonstration of craze Crazy demonstration If it no be craze Why for Afrika? As time dey go Things just dey bad They bad more and more Poor man dey cry Rich man dey mess Demo-crazy Democrazy Crazy demo Demonstration of craze Crazy demonstration If good-u teacher teach-ee something And student make mistake Teacher must talk-ee so But Oyinbo no talk-ee so I suffer dem, Dey suffer dem Dem dey say da teaching get meaning Different different meaning Different different kinds of meaning That is why I say That is the reason of my song That is the conclude The conclud-ee of my song I say, I sing, I beg everyone to join my song (3x) --------------------- TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURER BE YOUR NAME TEACHER, TEACHER-O NA THE LECTURE BE THE SAME MAKE-EE NO TEACH-EE ME AGAIN OH AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY-O AS SOON TEACHING FINISH YES, DA THING-EE IT GON DIE IT DEY-O ME AND YOU NO DEY FOR THE SAME-U CATEGORY NA THE SAME CATEGORY-O --------------------- Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-Ke, Ke-re-ke, Ke-re-Ji-Ke-Ke YAA! Ke-re-ke Ji Ke-ke YAA! Ke-re-ke Ji Ke-ke YAA! Ke-re-ke-Ke Ji Ke-ke YAA!
I want to sincerely thank you for the lyrics I pick up most of what is said and get the message but I missed a lot in this song …so again thank you 👍🏾👍🏾😉
I have been listening to this Warrior Prophet for years. He has no equal and he was the essence of what a freedom fighter should. His songs should be required to listen to for all of humanity. Ase'
Exceptionally outstanding! I saw Fela at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, circa 1989. Right before the show, everyone sat down - then Fela made a statement that the show would not begin until the band received up-front payment: they got paid, and the show commenced. I saw a Grateful Dead, Steal Your Face sticker on the bass player's ax - which led me to assume that the band was playing with some equipment provided by the Grateful Dead. Anyway... the show was exceptionally outstanding - with Fela wearing that trademark light blue outfit (and then shirtless - of course) with cigarette in hand conducting the band with furor, blowing his horn, and playing those dissonant/dissident chords and solos on his electric piano.
Must have been a wonderful experience!!! I only wish that I had discovered Fela a bit earlier!!! The man is a BEAST is every way...truly a legendary character, the wonderful Black President!!!
The 'Master' at work.. another masterpiece arguably, the best.. i lived n breathed Fela, 85 to 90, then i left the Africa Shrine, Lagos & headed for London.. saw Fela again in 92 (Brixton academy) his last show in London ever! .. it was magical, went to see him at the Strand Palace hotel London where he handed me a bag of the BEST weed.. in the presence of his late good friend J.K Braimoh.. & my good friend Lanre Shonibare (Kolex) he told J.K, while pointing at me: 'Jairzinho, awon Omò mi niyen'.. in English, 'Jairzinho, this is one of my REAL disciples'.. i am honoured to have known n walked with the Great Fela.. 'Abami Eleniyan' RIP Baba. ✊🏾😎
Chuma Igbeke He’s too much and a legend to the max, and he’s very good at what he does because, truthfully everything he’s saying is exactly what was going on in Nigeria even tho, the government hated him so much that he had to leave Nigeria and relocate to Ghana cause of the song Zombie;still he maintains his sanity and continue to build and build cause, he’s the FELA ANIKULANKO RANSOM KUTI THE UNSTOPPABLE;REST IN PEACE BABA 70
An African states man... Jah bless bro.. Now u are r resting in d hand of most high Jah Rastafrai.. People like OBJ-Zombie, Abiola ITT Rogue, low self esteem - Abacha will go to hell. RIP Fela
When we tell the world that Africa is the best when it comes to art, they say we are full of ourselves. But imperishable works like Fela’s are there for the world to see that we are far apart and beyond the rest of the world when it comes to arts and music. If only we could get our act together in leadership - create harmonious relationships between the government and the governed, the teacher and the student - we would definitely reveal to the world that we are real breeds, God’s original creation like no other.
billie you have hit the nail on the head ,truly this guy was ahead of time look at africa now the same evil deeds done by previous leaders are still being done by new leaders whom we expect to refrain from.
I once read somewhere in an interview with Fela about music critiques. His answer was Musicians make music, You listen. Full stop. He didn't really care if you digged is music or not. If you didn't like is music go and quench.
When I was young his music didn't make much sense. As I grew up I started enjoying it . the lyrics were prophetic utterances which would have change the Destiny of the nation if taken serious. But no one listened as everyone in power just pilfered and looted, ignoring the social health of the nation
@@taiwooghenah if you say so, it earns you have little of fela. What about confusion break bone, authority stealing, zombie, etc. in short which one can you leave out. that is why Fela is a Legend.
Thanks bros for this and other upload; yours are the cleanest ,smoothest and uninterrupted of Fela's songs uploaded on youtube yet.keep them coming...I'll be looking out for more of Fela's songs from you.Thank you once again.
Yes Mr Kuti's rhythms and musical patterns are widely sampled, but none like his peer, the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown. Soul brother #1, is clearly the most copied, sampled and most used by other artist. Fela is a giant force in the Afro pop and a great crossover artist, but even in his mastery of his musical genre, if you listen closely you can hear and feel the influence of the Master of funk, Mr James Brown. I take nothing away from Fela, whom I deeply love and respect, he is a beast and he has spawned hundreds of groups that emulate his music and his sound.
hadn't heard of him until the play (in the u.s.). and the music was such fiyah that i don't remember his story :/ but the bits and pieces i'm picking up now make me fall in love with and yearn for his creativity and... FEARLESSNESS!
The South African cultural and economic isolation because of Apartheid deprived us of this greatness. When exposed in the 1990s Fela was an instant hit.
This is devastating, deftly brilliant music. I don't know what I was doing to have missed listening to it until this moment. I've had to listen to this piece 3 times in a row today.
