in With the intense popularity of AFRO BEATS today, we are not forgetting FELA KUTI. Most agree that he is the creator of AFRO BEAT in the 1960's. Although there is a large number of sources that suggest that FELA KUTI was just one of many artists in Nigeria and West Africa that collectively created the original AFRO BEAT sound.
FELA KUTI studied trumpet at the Trinity College Of Music in London, England in the 1950's. It was there where he met fellow Nigerian musician student TONY ALLEN. They would eventually return to Nigerian as friends and long time collaborators.
Many sources have claimed FELA KUTI temporarily moved to U.K. and the United States in the late 1960's because he felt he couldn't compete with the stardom of GERALDO PINO.
According to the Discogs site "As PINO was selling-out shows in Nigeria he made a huge impression on FELA KUTI. KUTI then followed suit and incorporated similar funky elements into his live shows and recordings. It is said that KUTI then moved to America in order to promote his music because he didn't believe he could compete with PINO's popularity in West Africa. The move proved beneficial for KUTI who immediately caught the ears of Western producers and audiences."
His influence has been remarkable! Here are some of his recordings from 1960 to 1985:
| 1960 |
| FELA'S SPECIAL FELA RANSOME-KUTI And His HIGHLIFE RAKERS - 10" (78rpm) - MELODISC |
| 1961 |
| NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE FELA RANSOME-KUTI And His KOOLA LOBITOS - 7" - RK |
| 1965 |
| ONIFERE No. 2 FELA RANSOME-KUTI And His KOOLA LOBITOS - 7" - RK |
| 1968 |
| OMO EJO FELA RANSOME-KUTI And His KOOLA LOBITOS - FELA RANSOME-KUTI And His KOOLA LOBITOS (LP) - PARLOPHONE |
| 1969 |
| VIVA NIGERIA FELA And His AFRICA '70 - 7" - DUKE |
| WITCHCRAFT FELA And His AFRICA '70 - 7" - DUKE |
| 1971 |
| J'EHIN J'EHIN FELA RANSOME-KUTI And His AFRICA '70 - FELA'S LONDON SCENE (LP) - HIS MASTERS VOICE |
| 1972 |
| LET'S START FELA RANSOME-KUTI And The AFRICA '70 With GINGER BAKER - LIVE! (LP) - SIGNPOST |
| 1976 |
| UPSIDE DOWN SANDRA Sings With FELA & AFRICA 70 - UPSIDE DOWN (LP) - AFRODISIA |
| YELLOW FEVER FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI & AFRICA 70 - YELLOW FEVER (LP) - AFRODISIA |
| 1977 |
| COLONIAL MENTALITY FELA And AFRIKA 70 - SORROW TEARS AND BLOOD (LP) - KALAKUTA |
| 1978 |
| SHUFFERING AND SHMILING (PART 1) FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI And The AFRICA 70 - SHUFFERING AND SHMILING (LP) - COCONUT |
| 1980 |
| I.T.T. (PART 2) FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI, AFRICA 70 - INTERNATIONAL THIEF THIEF (I.T.T.) LP - KALAKUTA |
| 1985 |
| ARMY ARRANGEMENT FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI - ARMY ARRANGEMENT (LP) - CELLULOID |
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Rare Groove indeed. Thank you. Looking forward to it.
12:19 AM, October 5th, 2024