Fela Anikulapo Kuti a.k.a “ Black President ”

OCTOBER 15 2008 marks what would have been the 70 th birthday of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the iconic, popular but controversial musician, human rights activist, politician and pioneer of Afrobeat, which is a mixture of jazz, funk and African music, characterised by Yoruba and Pidgin English as well as rhythmic call and response chants.

Fela studied classical music at the Trinity College of Music in the UK . He went onto play various instruments including the saxophone, keyboard, trumpet, guitar and drums and recorded numerous albums. His band which changed its name several times over the years was renowned for its size, sensual singers and dancers and his club known as the “Shrine” had its own cult following.

Fela, the musical by Tony Award winner Bill T Jones and Jim Lewis ended its off Broadway show in New York on 5 October 2008 . Today, the legacy of Afrobeat is carried on by Fela's oldest and youngest sons Femi and Seun Kuti and Dele Sosimi, all of whom were previous band members; as well as the likes of Tony Allen, Tunday Akintan, Olufunsho Ogundipe, Lagbaja and Antibalas to name a few.