People

Jazz/Blues Nigeria
Description of Work:


Femi is Afrobeat pioneer and iconoclast Fela Anikulapo Kuti's oldest son. His father pioneered the sprawling big band, jazz and percussion heavy sounds of afrobeat, which, lyrically, were musically fueled political tirades against Nigeria's corrupt government and leaders.

Femi is the apparent heir to the afrobeat sound. He quit school to play alto sax in his father's band back in 1978. He then stepped up to lead the band for the next two years. In 1986, Fela returned and Femi split off to form his own group, Positive Force. Continuing in the afrobeat tradition, Femi built around a solid, six-piece horn section and two strong percussionists. With guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and four singer/dancers, his band numbered 17. Like Fela, Femi sang about power politics, but with a lighter touch, and in briefer form.

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