Born, Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti as his birth name, on 15 October 1938, Fela anikulapo kuti, also known as Abami Eda, was a famous Nigeria musician, composer, bandleader, pan-Africanist and political activist. Now, however, within this article you shall discover, “Why Fela Kuti was Jailed in 1984 by Muhammadu Buhari.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, as an Internationally acclaimed Nigerian musician due to his early mastery of the African music art, is still respected and given the the credit as the King of Afro-beat, a Nigerian music genre that combines West African music with American funk and jazz.
Referred to as one of Africa’s most charismatic, at the peak of his music success and popularity, he was described by allmusic as a “challenging and charismatic music performers”. “a musical and sociopolitical voice” of international significance.
Fela Kuti’s rise to Stardom and his first Album Release
After his early experiences abroad, as the son of a Nigerian women’s rights activist, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was an outspoken critic and target of the Nigerian military. He founded the Kalakuta Republic commune and his band Africa 70 in 1970. This was the same year that he gradually rose to stardom.
However, his first album “Black president“ was not released until 1981 and gained much global fame as an Aftobeat music performer. His band, Africa 70, was made of a drummer and the musical director Tony Allen and others. To express his disagreement with the then military regime, his Kalakuta Republic commune was declared independent of the military rules.
Fela Kuti’s challenges and the death of his mother Anikulapo-kuti
In an April 1978 military raid, under the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo, Anikulapo-kuti, the mother of fela Kuti was thrown down from a second-floor window which led to her death. To hurt him the most, they further destroyed his Kalakuta Republic commune..
Again, in 1984 under the leadership of Muhammadu Bihari, Fela was jailed; and when he was released 20 months later he continued to record his music and perform through the 1980s and 1990s. His records compilations, reissues and other intellectual rights related to his music have been inherited and managed by Femi Kuti his son.
