Fela Kuti First African to Get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award | Hacker News Reader

Fela Kuti First African to Get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award

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177 pointsdefrost42 comments

Afrobeat (of which Fela Kuti pioneered) and Afro-rock are genuinely some of the coolest fusion genres to ever exist.

If you need an introduction, the Nigeria 70 compilation is a great place to start:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upN0WEbFmUY&list=OLAK5uy_nQZ...

If I may suggest two artists besides the great Fela Kuti: William Onyeabor (try "Tomorrow") and Dizzy K Falola (try "Sweet Music").

William Onyeabor got me into African fusion. He's definitely one of the most interesting characters on the scene and the synthesizers in his music were some of the best. RIP.

King Sunny Ade is another great Nigerian artist! Ja Funmi is one of my favorites: https://youtu.be/LIO9MjfOo48?si=bZFOTgQF0SZZgT_X

Africa has a ton of fantastic musicians.

For instance, Dur Dur Band from Somalia: https://youtu.be/cVfrEmO5no4?si=aeqeufJpsKiIyvQX

Mulatu Astatke from Ethiopia: https://youtu.be/jXdVpT_aSJU?si=jMzwDIS75L9pqhxf

John Wizards from South Africa: https://youtu.be/1FNWfhmTn1M?si=lmHOUgvqxYS_P_Av

It’s a very deep well.

I was introduced to Mulatu Astatke's music from Jim Jarmusch's "Broken Flowers" soundtrack. [1] He's now one of my favorite African musicians.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulnyGZ4d3Y&list=PLHrPP0rObV...

I've enjoyed some of the Touareg stuff (like Tinariwen or Tarwa N-Trini -Berber, really). You can see where some of the American blues came from.

If you ever get the chance to see Tinariwen live, take it!

I doubt we'll be seeing them in the US for a while... :'(

They are playing in Delhi, tomorrow, though. I let a friend of mine from there, know.

Another friend of mine went to see The Hu[0], last time they toured the US. Said it was one of the most awesome concerts he'd ever attended.

[0] https://www.thehuofficial.com

Heh. He just sent me pics of the concert. He's there now.

Nice! I am happy for him. Such an amazing band and live experience, and I bet Delhi is a great place to see them.

I'll keep an eye out for The Hu, thanks for the tip!

It's been a while since I've listened to the Afro rock. Need to start digging again, thanks for the links.

Recently I've been really into Senegalese sabar sounds. If you can catch this collective live somewhere, go see:

https://ndagga.com/

This was also a really neat compilation for discovering artists I’d never heard of:

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/various-artists-mogadis...

Speaking of Afro-rock, I'll take this opportunity to plug the Zamrock sub-genre, and specifically the bands WITCH [1], Ngozi Family [2], Chrissy Zebby Tembo, [3] and Amanaz [4].

The first 3 tracks are very garage-y. The 4th is more mellow. All 4 are tracks I come back to often.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqFhpe3ZBlg&list=RDOqFhpe3ZB...

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzwFtRaB4Fk&list=RDAzwFtRaB4...

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfrKVOS1AvI&list=PLwVQppKVOQ...

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjUOYLJ8IYI&list=RDGjUOYLJ8I...

There are many many styles and genres of music across the continent, and a diaspora of african artists, a random grab from my play history has:

Angelique Kidjo's - We We https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4NsRS3S1UY

later sampled by Burna Boy in Anybody https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so4dgTRaWFk

Sona Jobarteh, playing Kora, Gambia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSD_amb-l9Q

S.Africa way, Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens, Kazet Gazette https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR7UbvhVT8g

Kanda Bongo Man Lela Lela - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76VFiJsFIcc

Bhundu Boys Hatisi Tose - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-acwRukdO8

Toure Kunda Emma - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6u0omHFhqE

Songhoy Blues (Mali) Soubour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOValSt7YOY

Little Simz Point And Kill feat. Obongjayar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvY31eN3gtE

Backo Dada's cover ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHCZDtA9wbc ) of Mory Kanté's Yeke Yeke ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGFtLh-5pVY )

Hmm, better stop for now - lunchtime.

Addendum, just for fun; Ghanaian-Australian Genesis Owusu teaming up with The Chats to cover Talking Heads' classic Pyscho Killer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTmGpJJsQEU

Fela bled for Nigeria—literally.

He carried scars on his back from police and soldier beatings meant to silence him for speaking against the government. His houses and estate were set ablaze. His land was seized by the government and never returned.

His mother was thrown off a building by soldiers.

Yet, the very people he fought for chose to focus on his vices and mocked him for them.

I’m glad he finally got this award.

And listen to the recent podcast that speaks of all of this, it's fascinating. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXD...

I can't tell whether the words to Fela Kuti's "Water No Get Enemy" are profound or trite.

But I can declare with 100% confidence that this song *rocks*! Go check it out.

I think "If water kill your child / Water you go use" is fairly profound, and a good demonstration of the idea that the pidgin expression refers to. And it rocks, of course.

I think the point of the song is inevitability (in the context of African liberation). The idea being that Africa is indispensable to the world and will eventually overcome.

You owe it to yourself to read up on the message and the circumstances around the song. Simple words, profound metaphor for life during wartime.

Then do the flip side of the record (“Expensive Shit”.)

What a profoundly ignorant comment, at least it obvious you didnt try to see who it was you were listening to.

I recommend this excellent podcast (episode) that is dedicated to going over his life and impact. Incredible person and story!

https://pca.st/episode/e2940e8b-c7da-43bd-abca-8750538acf7c

It's very good, but in the end I was disappointed with how uncritical it was.

I bought the vinyl reissue of The Best of the Black President.

I think it was a mistake that Fela's cousin's criticisms were only briefly mentioned.

As well as leaving Seun Keuti unchecked after screaming "bitch, get me a pen!".

I also found it funny that they used Barack Obama's name in the marketing release but you only ever hear about ~30 seconds from him!

There was also a Strong Songs episode about Fela Kuti back in November 2025:

https://strongsongspodcast.com/blogs/episodes/s07-bonus-the-...

Did anyone see Fela, the musical? It was so good. https://felakuti.com/us/legacy/fela-the-musical?

I did! One of the best shows I have ever seen. And Ngaujah had to have been the hardest-working man on Broadway during that run. Just an incredible performance.

If you are not familiar with Fela Kuti, he's like the James Brown of Afro-Pop. His music is super funky and amazing, and his family history is fascinating. Highly reccomended.

Can't say I'm surprised. Well deserved!

I was totally hooked on the recent podcast by Jad Abumrad - Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, that covers his life, music and political evolution:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMar0AT704Q6HKa1ACNXD...

A local here pointed him out to me about five years ago. I looked him up, and a month later or so found and watched a documentary on Kanopy called "Finding Fela", quite interesting.

Long time coming. All these years later, still heavy in my daily rotation.

Beasts of no Nation is a personal favorite!

hello,

i discovered fela anikulapo kutis music back in the 2nd half of the 1980ties - still a big fan!! :)

cheers,

a..z

It’s sad that we don’t have recordings of his work, and all we really have are people’s recollections of him.

There are recordings, and video of some his live performances.

  Lemi Ghariokwu, a renowned Nigerian artist and the designer behind 26 of Fela’s iconic album covers, says the fact that this is the first time an African musician gets this honour “just shows that whatever we as Africans need to do, we need to do it five times more.”

Fela Kuti & Africa 70 (Berlin 1978): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8oRpA2SpE

What withered a little on the vine was his philosophy of pan-africanism.

> all we really have are people’s recollections of him.

His children, former band members (he had big ensembles) are still performing his compositions and in his style.

eg: Seun Kuti performing a Fela Kuti number along with Newen Afrobeat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFSRCG4DrmI

He's still relevant today, he dedicated an entire album to faceless armed thugs operating as state sponsered death squads.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(album)

  The album was a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military. The album was a smash hit with the people and infuriated the government, setting off a vicious attack against the Kalakuta Republic (a commune that Kuti had established in Nigeria), during which one thousand soldiers attacked the commune.

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5x6pbJMyU

I appreciate the reply.

On a podcast recently and they talked a lot about his influence, but didn't play any music. And, when I went to look for it on YT, I didn't find the items you referenced. Thanks!

The film that is most mined for recordings is 'Fela Kuti - Music is the Weapon'.

There's an English cut and a French cut.

The French cut doesn't hide the cannabis use and you'll see people rolling spliffs and Fela taking his 'Fela Gold' 'medicine' which was something like a cannabis rosin.

> And, when I went to look for it on YT, I didn't find the items you referenced

What exactly were you looking for and how did you miss: https://www.youtube.com/@felakuti

Scrolled just to see if someone had mentioned the Newen Afrobeat + Seun Kuti session -- just an absolute masterclass.

Good news, you can search him on Spotify or Youtube and get tons of recordings of him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti_discography

I dont know if youre referring to his music as "his work" - quite the opposite, we have a lot!

His family recently began releasing many albums on Bandcamp. Ive been a fan for awhile and this is likely the best collection youll find online : https://felakuti.bandcamp.com/

The Best of the Black President is a good place to start. Dive in! Fela is the godfather of Afrobeat and highlife.

> It’s sad that we don’t have recordings of his work

I am literally, while typing this reply, listening to a recording of Fela Kuti right now that I ripped myself from a CD I bought maybe 15 years ago at a physical record store.

("International Thief Thief" off of "Original Suffer Head")

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