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Fela Kuti

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Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti in 1970
Fela Kuti in 1970
Background information
Birth nameOlufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti
Born(1938-10-15)15 October 1938
Abeokuta, Nigeria
OriginAbeokuta, Nigeria
Died2 August 1997(1997-08-02) (aged 58)
Lagos, Nigeria
GenresAfrobeat
Occupation(s)musician, activist
InstrumentsSaxophone
Vocals
Keyboards
Trumpet
Guitar
Drums
Years active1958–1997
Labels

Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), or just Fela, was a Nigerian musician and composer who was very important in a genre called afrobeat. He played the saxophone, guitar, drums, keyboards and trumpet, and he sang. He was also a human rights activist.[1] The American singer James Brown said that Kuti was one of the originators (starters) of the funk genre.

Kuti died in 1997 of Kaposi's sarcoma, an illness caused by AIDS.[2] In 2008 a musical production called Fela! was created, about Kuti's life and career.

References

[change | change source]
  1. Seattle Weekly: Barack Obama and the Original First Black President, archived from the original on 2009-07-17, retrieved 2009-07-17
  2. Farber, Jim (2009-11-21), "Fela Kuti: as Broadway musical 'Fela!' set to open, everything you need to know of Afrobeat legend", New York Daily News, archived from the original on 2009-11-27, retrieved 2009-12-27