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Fela Ransome-Kuti Fela, an activist and musician who was also a pan-Africanist. He was a proponent of African culture and was influenced by Black Power. He travelled to Ghana where he encountered new musical influences and a new direction for his music. He composed songs intended as political attacks against the Nigerian government and a world order that was systematically exploiting Africa. His music was adamantly radical. Fela Ransome Kuti was born Abeokuta In the 1970s and the 1980s, Fela Ransome-Kuti became known for his brutal style of music and rebellious political statements. Many of his songs were direct critiques of the Nigerian government and the military dictatorships which took over the country in those days. He also criticised fellow Africans for supporting dictatorships. Fela's rebellion against oppressive governments cost him dearly. He was beaten, arrested and even jailed several times. In fact, he has claimed to be “a prisoner of the Kalakuta Republic.” He also created his own political party known as the Movement for the Advancement of the People, or MOP. Her mother was Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti known as a well-known feminist leader and rights for women activist. fela claims was a member of the Abeokuta Women's Union and worked as a teacher. She also helped organize the first preschool classes of Abeokuta. She was a suffragist, and was active in the Nigerian independence movement. She was a close kin of writer and Nobel laureate Wole SOYINKA. Ransome-Kuti was a strong advocate of Pan-Africanism and socialism. She advocated the preservation of traditional African beliefs and practices and opposed European cultural imperialism. Ransome-Kuti was influenced Malcolm X, Eldridge Clever and the Black Power Movement. She was also a part of the African Renaissance movement. Despite his opposition to Western culture and the oppressive Nigerian government, Fela was able to draw a huge following around the world through his music. His music was a blend of jazz, Afrobeats and rock and heavily influenced by American jazz clubs. He was also a staunch anti-racist. Fela's protests in Nigeria against the government led to numerous arrests and beatings. However, this did not deter his desire to continue touring the United States and Europe. In 1984, he was again attacked by the military and arrested on dubious charges of smuggling currency. The incident prompted international human rights groups to intervene, and the government backed down. Kuti however, he continued to record and perform until his death in 1998. He was buried at the Kalakuta Cemetery, Abeokuta. The Fela Museum is located in the city. He was a musician A fervent Pan-Africanist, Fela was committed to using his music as a method of social protest. Using his funk-driven Afrobeat style, he criticized the Nigerian government and inspired activists around the world. Fela was born in 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was the son of Funmilayo Runsome-Kuti, a fierce anticolonialist and leader of the Nigerian women's movement. His mother like his grandparents was a physician who was an anti-colonialist. Fela was taught to fight for the rights of the oppressed and this became his main focus in life. Fela began his career as a musician in 1958 after he dropped out of medical school to pursue his love of music. He began playing highlife music, a popular genre that combines African rhythms and Western instruments with jazz. He formed his first group in London and was able to develop his skills in the capital of music of Europe. After his return to Nigeria, he developed Afrobeat, which combined the lyrics of agitprop with danceable beats. The new sound became popular in Nigeria and across Africa, becoming one of the most influential styles of African music. In the 1970s, Fela's political activism placed him in direct conflict with Nigerian military regimes. The regime was wary of his music's ability to inspire people to rise up against their oppressors and overturn the status established order. Fela even despite repeated attempts to silence his music continued to produce a ferocious and danceable music to the end of his life. He passed away from complications related to AIDS in 1997. While Fela was alive, crowds of people were always waiting to catch him perform at his nightclub in Lagos, called Afrika Shrine. He also built the Kalakuta republic, a commune that was used as his recording studio and club. The commune also served as a place to hold political speeches. Fela often critiqued the Nigerian government and world leaders, including U.S. President Ronald Reagan, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and South African Prime Minister P.W. Botha. His legacy continues to live in the wake of his death due complications resulting from AIDS. His Afrobeat style has influenced a variety of artists, including Beyonce and Wyclef Jean. Jay Z also cites his influence. He was a mysterious man who loved music as well as fun and women. But his most lasting legacy is his unwavering efforts to fight for the oppressed. He was a Pan-Africanist The renowned Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and political activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a Pan-Africanist, bringing his unique musical style to the cause of the people. He was a master of blending African culture with American jazz and funk. He also utilized his music as a method to critique Nigeria's oppressive regime. Despite being the subject of frequent beatings and arrests, he continued to stand up for and defend his beliefs. Fela was born into the prestigious Ransome-Kuti family that included anti-colonialists as well as artists. His mother Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a educator and feminist and his father, Israel Oludotun Ransome Kuti, helped to form a teachers' union. He was a singer and listened to the traditional songs and the rhythms of highlife, which included soul songs, jazz standards, and Ghanaian hymns. His worldview was formed by this musical legacy. He was determined to bring Africa and the world together. In 1977, Fela recorded Zombie. The track portrayed police officers to a mindless horde who would follow orders and brutalize the people. The song angered the military authorities who invaded the house of Fela and sacked his compound. They beat everyone, including Fela's children and women. His mother was removed from a window and passed away the following year of injuries she suffered in the attack. The invasion fueled the Fela's anti-government protests. He set up an organization called the Kalakuta Republic, which doubled as an recording studio. He also formed a party and broke away from the Nigerian government, and his songs started to focus more on social issues. In 1979, he carried his mother's coffin to the junta's headquarters in Lagos and was arrested for his efforts. Fela was a warrior who was fearless and never surrendered to the status of the game. He knew the injustice of fighting an inefficient and unjust power however he did not give up. He was the epitome of an unstoppable spirit, and in that way he was truly heroic. He was a man who defied all odds and changed the course history. His legacy continues to live on today. He died in 1997 The passing of Fela has been a devastating loss to his fans all over the world. He was 58 when he passed away, and his funeral was attended by millions of people. His family members said he had died of heart failure caused by AIDS. Fela played a key role in the development and evolution of Afrobeat music Afrobeat music is a genre that blends traditional Yoruba rhythms, jazz and American funk. His political activism resulted in arrests and beatings by Nigerian police but he refused be silenced. He propagated Africanism and encouraged others to stand up against corruption within the Nigerian military government. Fela was also a major influencer on the Black Power movement in the United States, which inspired him to fight for Africa. In his later years, Fela suffered from skin lesion and a dramatic loss of weight. These symptoms clearly indicated that he was suffering from AIDS. He was an AIDS denier and refused treatment, but eventually died from the disease. Fela Kuti will be remembered for generations to come. Kuti's songs are an eloquent statement of political opinion that challenge the status quo. He was a revolutionary who aimed to change the way Africans were treated. He made use of his music as a tool for social protest and struggled against colonialism. His music had a profound influence on the lives of many Africans, and he'll be remembered for it. Fela collaborated with numerous producers throughout his career to create his unique sound. One of these producers was EMI producer Jeff Jarratt and British dub master Dennis Bovell. His music was a mixture of traditional African beats and American funk. This gave him an international audience. He was a controversial figure in the world of music and was often critical of Western cultural practices. Fela is famous for his controversial music, and his lifestyle. He smoked marijuana openly and had numerous relationships with women. He was an activist who fought for the rights of the poor in Nigeria despite his extravagant lifestyle. His music influenced many Africans' lives and encouraged them to embrace their culture.