Finding Fela
- Soundtrack and Movie
Album
(Knitting Factory Records) - CD/DL - 1 September 2014
Movie - 5 September
2014
The creator
of Afro-beat is celebrated in a new movie with accompanying soundtrack.
As the opening
titles to the movie read - 'To the Government he was a dangerous revolutionary,
to the World he was a musical visionary'.
To a complete stranger this would almost sum up Fela Anikulapo Kuti in a
nutshell.
Not only was
Kuti the man that fused traditional Nigerian and Ghanaian music with jazz, funk
and heavy percussion to create a new musical genre in Afro-beat, but he was
also an enemy to the Government. Born to
Christian parents he was a well-educated, middle-class young man, (his Reverend
father was instrumental in the spread of the English language) who stood for
what he believed to be right and on behalf of his fellow countrymen he led
their struggle for freedom.
He stood
against political and civil crimes committed by the Government, he foresaw political,
cultural and economic disasters, he believed in the power of the people. In 2006, Time magazine quoted him as one of
the World’s greatest musical icons and celebrities.
The musical,
Fela! opened on Broadway in 2009. A
strange choice for a musical?
Perhaps. The producers took on
the task and looked at not only his music but also his intense bravery and
commitment to his cause.
Stephen
Hendel, the show's producer took on Alex Gibney the Oscar winning film
producer, to direct the show and its move from Broadway to Lagos in Nigeria
together with a cast and crew of 80 personnel. Over 1,200 hours of film were scoured and pieced
together with scenes from Broadway and interviews with friends, family and
colleagues from an incredible career.
An
appearance from one Paul McCartney quotes that when The Beatles saw him play
live he cried at the sheer brilliance of the music. There were also visits from the likes of
Stevie Wonder and James Brown's backing band, the latter of which was
undoubtedly heavily influenced by Kuti.
Fela was a
man who loved life, loved its effervescence and loved its people, but he was
also aware of life's struggles. His
defence of Nigerian women and their rights to their culture was apparently endorsed
by marrying 27 in a mass wedding. Each
time he released an album he was imprisoned and beaten. He was the epitome of a revolutionary and
hero.
The film is
packed with superb performances both of the man himself and of Fela! on
stage. Colours are as wild and vibrant
as he was himself.
The
soundtrack contains sixteen tracks, many of which are edited (some of his
tracks went on for twenty or thirty minutes!), and include Zombie from the
Broadway interpretation and a live version of Colonial Mentality which was
recorded in Lagos by the cast with Femi Kuti, Fela's son playing saxophone.
Finding Fela
is a fascinating film not only for fans but also for people wanting to know
more about the hero to millions.
Likewise, the soundtrack is a perfect introduction to his unique style
which continues to influence musicians to this day.
9/10
Links
Knitting Factory Records
Finding Fela website
Fela Kuti on Bandcamp
Fela Kuti on Twitter
Fela Kuti on hiapop
Published On Louder Than War 2/09/14 - here
9/10
Links
Knitting Factory Records
Finding Fela website
Fela Kuti on Bandcamp
Fela Kuti on Twitter
Fela Kuti on hiapop
Published On Louder Than War 2/09/14 - here
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