A new radio special coming up tonight, Friday, May 28th! For quite some time, many of our listeners have asked us to do a tribute to the great late Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, also known as Fela Kuti. We've never dared to tackle this idea, because Fela's output as a composer, singer, musician and arranger is huge, and since his songs are not exactly short (often lasting over one side of an album), it's hard to do this idea justice in just two hours.
But on tonight's Midnight Soulstice, I will dig out his favorite tunes by the Godfather of Afrobeat, mainly focusing on the material Fela recorded between 1969 and 1979 with his group Afrika '70 - which we consider his creative prime. This is gonna be a great show, so don't miss it. Even if you don't know how to sing along in Nigerian pidgin or Yoruba, just sit back, relax and enjoy some of the sickest Funk grooves you'll ever hear.
Listen live from 11 pm until 1 am Eastern on 97.3 fm (in Richmond, VA), on the web at www.wrir.org. I will post the download of this show later.

Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/?...658&ref=ts



Tracks like these, but I'll play many rare tracks that you won't find on youtube:









And I'll play some tracks by Fela's drummer Tony Allen:


[Edited 6/11/10 20:07pm]

I'm been onto the late Fela Kuti's music for sometime now. Loved what he stood for politically. My favorite track is "Expensive Sh*t", and a broadway play about his life in showing in NYC possibly until October, which I am planning to see.

www.felaonbroadway.com
[Edited 5/28/10 10:11am]

Loved the play! I need to buy some of his music.

love his catalog.

Just purchased from knitting factory the Na Poi set of 7 cds' via download at 320 quality.. for $40 buck.... itunes wants 70.

I have all original vinyl albums... been into him since I was a kid.

Only thing is... JAmes Brown was never jailed and beaten 4 his lyrics and views.

Check out I.T.T (International Thief Thief) if U get the chance.

~G

Fela

Giovanni777 said:

Didn't he & his mother get thrown out of the window at one point? I think she died from the injuries.

Maybe some will take offence to what I say, but while I think that J.B. is superior than Fela rhythmically, I think Fela is superior than J.B. lyrically by far MILES.

2elijah said:

Expensive Shit has always been my favorite track by Fela!
I heard about the musical .. I hope it's still playing when I'll come up to NYC next, because I'd love to check it out.

Giovanni777 said:

That's already on my playlist for tonight's show.

Def. will check this out..Fela was the shit.

Show goes on air in 10 minutes .. from 11 pm until 1 am Eastern on www.wrir.org

SCNDLS said:

I'm actually trying to get my 3 sisters and my mom to see it together. Did you sit in orchestra seats? I don't want to sit far back. I have to have a good view. I may be going this weekend or next weekend. They don't know I'm going to treat them. They should be so lucky to have a sibling/daughter like me.
[Edited 5/28/10 20:45pm]

Just tuned in. Soulpower, your voice sounds like you have a Caribbean accent.
[Edited 5/28/10 20:54pm]

MrSoulpower said:

It's playing through the first week of November. It's also received 11 tony nominations for best musical. That says a lot.
[Edited 5/28/10 20:44pm]

for future viewing

Giovanni777 said:

That's why I admired Fela Kuti, because he wasn't afraid to express his politioal/social views regardless of the abuse he took for it, and he spoke through his music about it. However, I love Afro-beat, Afro-Jazz.

Lawd have mercy, I just can't sit down to Fela's music. There's so many sounds in Fela's music. You could hear Jazz/Calypso/latin/African beats all intertwined, absolutely love it!

There's another group I like called "Kokolo" that plays afrobeat type music.
[Edited 5/28/10 20:58pm]

Yay! Expensive sh*t is on.....

2elijah said:

eran no goat for yoruba land
him go bend him yansh he go shit
him go comot away from the shit
the shit go be the last thing wey he go like to see
because why oh?
because the shit de smell

Has the show ended?

nevermind

i miss it dang!!!

2elijah said:

They'll LOVE it. I was on the 2nd row center so I had eye contact with the actor playing Fela the whole time. It's kinda interactive. The dancing and music was AMAZING! The vibe is supposed to be like you're with Fela as he performs in a club. They even serve special Fela cocktails.
[Edited 5/29/10 6:41am]

SCNDLS said:

Did they also pass out ten inch joints to each member of the audience like Fela did at his shows at Kalakuta Republic?

funkpill said:

I'll post the link to the download sometime this weekend ..

SCNDLS said:

One of the physicians in the office where I work, saw it in February, and was boasting about how amazing the show was. She did say the stage set was set up hat it was displayed like you're in a shrine, so the audience could be in connection of how Fela lived.

I want to sit at least no less than 5 rows from the front, center. I'm trying to get everyone's schedule together and hopefully can get tickets for this week. They don't have Monday shows, so I guess it will have to be Tues or Wednesday night. Thing is, my sisters were available on Monday, but of course, no show that night. I can't wait to see it. I'm totally excited. I actually wanted to go tonight, but not everyone is available and it is Memorial Day Weekend, and I'm sure we have tons of tourists here this weekend, so maybe from Tuesday or Wednesday night would be better for me and my fam to go. I want to treat my mom for what would have been her 56th year wedding anniversary if my Dad was still alive, so she'll enjoy the show I'm sure.


Good show SP, but you still sound like you have a Caribbean accent.
[Edited 5/29/10 9:03am]

MrSoulpower said:

Lawd have merrrrrcy...me tink you crazy mon takin' like daht, but fah true, it was a good show me son!

Eh, eh look mon, sumtime you get on me nerves in P&R, but you awright as long as you play me some fela muuusicccc!
[Edited 5/29/10 9:09am]

MrSoulpower said:

2elijah said:

SCNDLS said:

One of the physicians in the office where I work, saw it in February, and was boasting about how amazing the show was. She did say the stage set was set up hat it was displayed like you're in a shrine, so the audience could be in connection of how Fela lived. I want to sit at least no less than 5 rows from the front, center. I'm trying to get everyone's schedule together and hopefully can get tickets for this week. They don't have Monday shows, so I guess it will have to be Tues or Wednesday night. Thing is, my sisters were available on Monday, but of course, no show that night. I can't wait to see it. I'm totally excited. I actually wanted to go tonight, but not everyone is available and it is Memorial Day Weekend, and I'm sure we have tons of tourists here this weekend, so maybe from Tuesday or Wednesday night would be better for me and my fam to go. I want to treat my mom for what would have been her 56th year wedding anniversary if my Dad was still alive, so she'll enjoy the show I'm sure. Good show SP, but you still sound like you have a Caribbean accent. [Edited 5/29/10 9:03am] Awwww, that's sweet. I hope you can coordinate everything cuz it's definitely worth it. If I recall The Shrine is the name of his club and the performance is supposed to be the last time he performs because he's leaving the country or going to jail or sumthin. I can't remember right now.

Thanks Scndls, it's hard getting family together sometimes with everyone's busy schedule, but it's definitely going to be this week that I'll be ordering tickets, if I can get the seats I want. (side note) I just noticed the new features they put on the site, not bad)

[Edited 5/30/10 7:24am]

Regarding Fela on Broadway: The Eugene Oneil is a small theater-you can sit in the last row in balcony and have a great view. I have been seated there a couple of times over the years. I thought the show was good, 3 of 4 stars if you will. It is a musical, not a play. There is no linear story line and it is centered on a monolouge. If one is not familiar with Fela or Nigeria before the show, it may be useful to do some prior reading. I don't know how to best phrase this, but the show doesn't tell his story, rather, it creates the feeling of his enviornment. Have a great time. [Edited 5/30/10 8:29am]

[Edited 5/30/10 8:30am]