Description
*This is a Vinyl LP*
Release Date: 2014
Label: Knitting Factory Records
Track List
Side A
1. Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense (Part 2)
Side B
1. Look And Laugh (Part 2)
Notes
Fela Kuti also known as Fela Anikulapo Kuti or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and political maverick. Over a decade after his death, vindication has come to Kuti, Africa’s musical genius. AfroBeat, his gift to the world, is now an international staple.
Throughout his life, Fela contended that AfroBeat was a modern form of danceable, African classical music with an urgent message for the planet’s denizens. Created out of a cross-breeding of Funk, Jazz, Salsa and Calypso with Juju, Highlife and African percussive patterns, it was to him a political weapon.
In the ’80s and early ’90s Fela’s band changed from Africa ’70 to the larger Egypt ’80. It was during this era that Fela consistently toured internationally bringing Afrobeat to the world. Fela’s compositions grew more complex, songs longer but no less funky. Many Fela fans feel this era to hold some of his crowning achievements such as the masterfully produced Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense or the political powerhouse that is I.T.T. Fela’s political statements also began to veer beyond Africa to the U.N. as on Beasts of No Nation
“With production help from Wally Badarou, Fela Anikulapo Kuti offers up an interesting mix of songs (well, two to be exact) in both vocal and instrumental versions. Most compelling is the track ‘Look and Laugh,’ which details the attack by Nigerian soldiers on his Kalakuta compound. With simple lyrics, Fela runs down the horror of that attack in a detached, almost journalistic manner: ‘Till dem come/burn my house/burn my house/all my property/burn burn dem/beat beat me/kill my mama.’ Badarou’s production help gives Fela his most full-bodied sound; the horn section is much hotter and brassier than ever before.” — AllMusic.com
