Fela Kuti

Bio

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (born 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria) began his career playing jazz and highlife. He formed his first band in London in 1959 while studying at Trinity College of Music.

In the early 1970s, Fela created Afrobeat, which rapidly became the most avidly followed style across West Africa. Afrobeat’s revolutionary politics brought Fela into violent conflict with successive Nigerian military regimes, which made many attempts to suppress him and once sent in the army to burn down his communal home, Kalakuta Republic. Fela refused to be silenced. He rebuilt Kalakuta and at his Lagos club, the Afrika Shrine, continued to make fierce, and always supremely danceable, music until a few weeks before his passing in 1997. Fela’s legacy lives on through his family. His son Femi leads The Positive Force and another son, Seun, leads Egypt 80. His daughter Yeni was the prime mover behind the building of the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine.

Since 2008, the Kuti family has partnered with Knitting Factory Entertainment and Partisan Records to revive and reissue Fela's entire catalogue, further broadening the global reach and accessibility of his music and message.

Music

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Fela Kuti
Custom Check Point (Edit)
07:31
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Shuffering and Shmiling
12:25
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No Agreement, Pt. 2
07:53
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Water No Get Enemy
09:51
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Gentleman
11:02
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Lady (Edit)
05:51
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Ezra Collective
Lady (Ezra Collective Version)
05:47
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Yellow Fever
15:23
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Black Man's Cry (Edit)
04:02
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Confusion, Pt. 1 & 2
25:36
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Confusion (Edit)
06:39
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I.T.T. (International Thief Thief) (Edit)
07:00
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International Thief Thief (I.T.T.) (Armonica & MoBlack Extended Mix Mixed)
05:40
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Shakara (Edit)
04:29
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International Thief Thief (I.T.T.) (Armonica & MoBlack Mix)
03:41
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I Go Shout Plenty!!!
12:56
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2000 Blacks Got to Be Free (Edit)
04:53
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Oyejo
03:25
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Shuffering and Shmiling (Edit)
11:59
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Beasts of No Nation (Edit)
16:12
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Power Show (Edit)
08:46
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Go Slow (Edit)
05:46
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Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (Edit)
13:44
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VIP, Pt. 2 (Live in Berlin)
07:49
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Upside Down (Edit)
06:22
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Viva Nigeria
03:44
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Lover
06:09
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Highlife Time
05:22
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Opposite People (Edit)
06:38
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Jeun Ko Ku (Chop'n Quench)
07:14
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Unknown Soldier
31:08
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Colonial Mentality
13:41
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He Miss Road
10:45
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Black Man's Cry
11:35
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Sorrow Tears and Blood (Original Extended Version)
16:41
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Monkey Banana
11:31
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Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am
12:03
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Underground System, Pt. 2
15:19
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Everything Scatter
10:31
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Pansa Pansa
17:20
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U.S. (Underground System)
28:26
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O.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)
31:54
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Beasts of No Nation
28:19
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Look and Laugh (Parts 1 & 2)
30:49
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Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (Parts 1 & 2)
25:47
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Army Arrangement
29:59
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Power Show
14:48
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Original Sufferhead
21:09
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I.T.T. (International Thief Thief), Pt. 1 & 2
24:02
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Coffin for Head of State
22:42
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Shuffering & Shmiling, Pt. 1 & 2
21:33
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Sorrow Tears and Blood
10:15
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Fear Not for Man
14:14
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Dog Eat Dog (Instrumental)
15:32
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No Agreement
15:31
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Mistake (Live at the Berlin Jazz Festival - 1978)
14:46
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Observation No Crime
13:25
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Mr. Follow Follow
12:57
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Zombie
12:25
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Yellow Fever
15:22
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Upside Down
14:42
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Kalakuta Show
14:31
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Noise For Vendor Mouth
15:23
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It's No Possible
17:36
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Water No Get Enemy
11:00
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Expensive Shit
13:13
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Why Black Man Dey Suffer
15:15
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I No Get Eye For Back
11:24
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Igbe
08:06
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Fefe Naa Efe
08:12
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Gentleman
14:41
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Eko Ile
06:41
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ALU Jon Jonki Jon
12:41
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Shakara (Oloje)
13:25
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Lady
13:48
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Roforofo Fight
15:41
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Open & Close
14:53
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Buy Africa
05:50
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Who're You
09:30
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Egbe Mi O (Carry Me)
13:15
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J'Ehin J'Ehin (Chop Teeth: Chop Teeth)
07:26
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Ye Ye De Smell
13:15
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Let's Start
07:45
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Witchcraft
05:27
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Obe (Stew)
03:13
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My Lady Frustration
07:01
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Videos

Fela Kuti Box Set #6 curated by @idriselba163 is out now! #felakuti #idriselba #shorts
Music is the weapon �✊�
Fela Kuti - The Legacy
Fela Kuti - Stalemate (Edit) [Official Audio]
Fela Kuti - Lady (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Ariya (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Alu Jon Jonki Jon (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Shenshema (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Excuse-O (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Noise For Vendor Mouth (edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Kalakuta Show (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Why Black Man Dey Suffer (Edit) (Official Visualizer)
Fela Kuti - Original Sufferhead (Extended Version) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Egbe Mi O (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Ginger Baker and Tony Allen Drum Solo (Part 2) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Yellow Fever (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - No Agreement (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Open & Close (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Black Man's Cry (feat. Ginger Baker) [Live] (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Confusion (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - I.T.T. (Edit) (Official Audio)
FELA - Shakara (Edit) (Official Audio)
Symposium (Felabration 2020 Virtual Edition)
Fela Kuti - Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Expensive Shit (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Sorrow Tears and Blood (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Zombie (Edit) (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (Live at Glastonbury, 1984)
Fela Kuti - Perambulator (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - Frustration (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - I Go Shout Plenty!!! (Official Audio)
Fela Kuti - 2000 Blacks Got To Be Free (feat. Roy Ayers) (Edit)
Fela Kuti - Africa Centre of the World (feat. Roy Ayers) (Edit)
Fela Kuti - Confusion Break Bones (C.B.B.)
Fela Kuti Rarities (Part 3) with @stephenbudd
Fela Kuti Rarities (Part 2) with @stephenbudd
Fela Kuti Rarities (Part 1) with @stephenbudd
Fela Kuti - Coffin For Head of State Part 2 (Vocal)
Felabration (Notting Hill Carnival 2017)
Water No Get Enemy (Felabration 2016) - Mashup
Dele Sosimi - Money Get Power (Felabration 2016)
Aina More - Shuffering & Smiling (Felabration 2016)
Ed Keazor - Fogo Fogo (Felabration 2016)
Dele Sosimi - You No Fit Touch Am (Felabration 2016)
Breis & Dele Sosimi - Buy Africa (Felabration 2016)
YolanDa Brown & Afrikan Boy - Gentleman (Felabration 2016)
Aina More & Afrikan Boy - Opposite People (Felabration 2016)
Fela Kuti - Mistake
Tiggs Da Author & Nissi - Sakara Olojie (Felabration 2016)
Fela Kuti - Gba Mi Leti Ki N'Dolowo
Temi Dollface - Just Like That (Felabration 2016)
Fela Kuti - Fear Not For Man (LP)
Custom Check Point (Felabration 2016) - Sherinne Anderson, Jazmine Thorpe , Wura Samba & Dele Sosimi
Fela Kuti - Live In Amsterdam (LP)
Ed Keazor - Kalakuta Show (Felabration 2016)
Fela Kuti - Stalemate (LP)
Tiggs Da Author & Cassie Kinoshi - Colonial Mentality (Felabration 2016)
Fela Kuti - Equalisation of Trouser and Pant
YolanDa Brown - Lady (Felabration 2016)
Fela Kuti - Noise For Vendor Mouth
Temi Dollface & Breis - Zombie (Felabration 2016)
Afrikan Boy - Black Man's Cry (Felabration 2016)
Fela Kuti - Perambulator (LP)
Dele Sosimi - I Don't Care (Felabration 2016)
Fela Kuti - Observation No Crime
Fela Kuti - Na Poi
Fela Kuti - Afrodisiac (LP)
Fela Kuti - O.D.O.O. (Overtake Don Overtake Overtake)
Fela Kuti - V.I.P. (Vagabonds in Power)
Fela Kuti - Ikoyi Blindness
Fela Kuti - Dont Make Garan Garan
Slices of Fela (Final Part)
Fela Kuti - The '69 Los Angeles Sessions (LP)
Fela Kuti - Open and Close (LP)
Fela Kuti - You No Go Die.....Unless
Fela Kuti - Custom Check Point
Fela Kuti - Confusion
Fela Kuti - Unknown Soldier
Fela Kuti - Authority Stealing
Fela Kuti - Beast of No Nation
Fela Kuti - Upside Down
Fela Kuti - Unnecessary Begging (LP)
Fela Kuti - Shuffering and Shmiling
Fela Kuti - I Go Shout Plenty !!! (LP)
Fela Kuti - Go Slow
Fela's Official Youtube Channel Trailer
Fela Kuti - You Gimme Shit I Give You Shit
Fela Kuti - Excuse-O (LP)
Fela Kuti - Underground System
Fela Kuti - London Scene (LP)
Fela Kuti - J.J.D. (Johnny Just Drop!!)
Fela Kuti - M.O.P (Movement of The People)
Fela Kuti - Monkey Banana (LP)
Fela Kuti - Its No Possible
Fela Kuti - Yellow Fever
Fela Kuti - I No Get Eye For Back
Fela Kuti - Kalakuta Show
Fela Kuti - Power Show
Fela Kuti - Mr Follow Follow
Fela Kuti - Monday Morning in Lagos
Fela Kuti - Army Arrangement (LP)
Fela Kuti - Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense (LP)
Fela Kuti - Original Sufferhead
Fela! The Concert
Fela Kuti - No Agreement (LP)
Felabration 2015 - Fela Kuti's Tribute Show (England / London) ✔
Ololufe Mi - Bumi Thomas & 2face Idibia (Felabration 2015)
Fela Kuti - International Thief Thief (I.T.T.)
Fela Kuti - Water No Get Enemy
Fela Kuti - Fela & Roy Ayers (LP) "Music Of Many Colours"
“E Go Betta” - The Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra (Felabration 2015)
“Water No Get Enemy” - Tony Allen, 2face Idibia & Laura Mvula (Felabration 2015)
“Fogo Fogo” - Tony Allen & Ed Keazor (Felabration 2015)
“Zombie” - Terri Walker & The Floacist (Felabration 2015)
“Kalakuta Show” - Tony Allen, Ed Keazor & Shingai Shoniwa (Felabration 2015)
“Sorrow, Tears And Blood” - 2face Idibia & The Floacist (Felabration 2015)
“Opposite People” - Laura Mvula (Felabration 2015)
“Blackman’s Cry” - Afrikan Boy (Felabration 2015)
“Lady” - Shingai Shoniwa (Felabration 2015)
“Upside Down” - Tony Allen & Audrey Gbaguidi (Felabration 2015)
“Custom Check Point” - Jazmine, Sherinne, Nandhi, Lydie (Felabration 2015)
“Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am” - Terri Walker, 2face Idibia & Dele Sosimi (Felabration 2015)
Slices of Fela (Part 3)
Fela Kuti - Colonial Mentality
Fela Kuti - Opposite People
Fela Kuti - Pansa Pansa
Fela Kuti - Why Black Man Dey Suffer (LP)
Fela Kuti - Zombie
Fela Kuti - Expensive Shit
Fela Kuti - He Miss Road
Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight (LP)
The Music of Fela Kuti (discussion)
Fela Kuti - Everything Scatter (LP)
Fela Kuti - Gentleman (LP)
Fela Kuti - Live With Ginger Baker (LP)
Fela Kuti - Coffin For Head of State
Fela Kuti - Sakara Olojie
Slices of Fela (Part 2)
Slices of Fela (Part 1)
Finding Fela Q&A: Assessing Fela Kuti's Legacy
Sam Duckworth - Thoughts On Fela
Finding Fela's Talking Heads
Fela Kuti - Lady
Fela Kuti - Alagbon Close
Seun Kuti & Femi Kuti - “2 Kings Concert''
Finding Fela - Sundance Film Festival London
Felabration 2013: "Colomentality" by The Goldsmiths Vocal Ensemble, ESKA & Dele Sosimi
Felabration 2013: Shakara - (Mash Up)
Felabration 2013: "Kalakuta Show" by Shingai & Keazor
Felabration 2013: "Turbulent Times" (Dele Sosimi Original) by The Dele Sosimi Orchestra
Felabration 2013: "Fogo Fogo" by Keazor
Felabration 2013: "Opposite People" by The Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra
Felabration 2013: "Zombie" by Zee Gachette & The Goldsmiths Vocal Ensemble & ESKA
Felabration 2013: "Coffin For Head of State" by Trinity Laban Students & Dele Sosimi
Felabration 2013: "Shuffering & Shmiling" by Zee Gachette & Blak Twang
Felabration 2013: "Sorrow Tears & Blood" by Olugbenga
Felabration 2013: "Lady" by Shingai Shoniwa
Felabration 2013: "Buy Africa" by Baloji
Felabration 2013: Water No Get Enemy by Sam Duckworth & co.
Felabration 2013: "Too much Information" (Dele Sosimi Original) by The Dele Sosimi Orchestra
Fela -- Zenith (Clip 3)
Ray Lema - Thoughts On Fela (French)
Baloji (French) - Thoughts On Fela
Afrikan Boy - Thoughts On Fela
BBC Felabration Segment
Dele - Thoughts On Fela
Wunmi - Thoughts On Fela
M1 Of Dead Prez - Thoughts On Fela
Jim James of My Morning Jacket - Thoughts On Fela
Talib Kweli - Thoughts On Fela
Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes - Thoughts On Fela
Baloji - Thoughts on Fela
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson A.K.A Questlove - Thoughts On Fela
Bill T Jones - Thoughts On Fela
Alex Gibney - Thoughts On Fela
Robert Glasper - Thoughts On Fela
Ray Lema - Thoughts On Fela
Brian Eno - Thoughts On Fela
Common - Thoughts On Fela
George Clinton - Thoughts On Fela
Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs - Thoughts On Fela
Sir Paul McCartney - Thoughts On Fela
Saluting The Black President: "Shakara"
Saluting The Black President: "Ye Ye De Smell" by Tony Allen & Ginger Baker
Saluting The Black President: "Opposite People" by TY & Tony Allen
Saluting The Black President: "Egbe Mi O" by Tony Allen & Ginger Baker
Saluting The Black President: "Upside Down" by Tony Allen & Biola Dosunmu
Saluting The Black President: "Trouble Sleep Yango Go Wake Am" by Keziah Jones
Saluting The Black President: "Water No Get Enemy" by KOF & Terri Walker
Saluting The Black President: "Lady" by Shingai Shoniwa & Breis
Saluting The Black President: "Shuffering & Shmiling" - Black Twang
Saluting The Black President: "Zombie" - TY
Saluting The Black President: "Ololufemi" - Bumi Thomas
Saluting The Black President: "Sorrow, Tears & Blood" - Breis
Saluting The Black President: "Gentleman" - Afrikan Boy
Fela Kuti - Sorrow Tears & Blood (Original Extended Version)
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Egypt 80 - Beasts Of No Nation, Live at the Zenith, Paris in 1984
Fela Kuti - Shakara
Fela Kuti - Sorrow Tears & Blood
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Egypt 80, Live at the Zenith, Paris in 1984
Fela Kuti - Everything Scatter
Something Beyond Yourself: TVOTR's Tunde Adebimpe on Fela
Lemi!
"Water No Get Enemy" from FELA! Original Broadway Cast Recording.
The Funky African: Questlove on Fela
NGAbeokuta, Nigeria
In operation since: 
1959
Profile added by Gabriel Myers Hansen on 18 Aug 2021
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