Red Hot + Fela - "Buy Africa" (Baloji & L'Orchestre De La Katuba feat. Kuku) by KnittingFactoryRecords published on 2013-07-30T20:07:45Z Genre Afrobeat Comment by Paddy Paco Hush with super luv!! 2018-01-18T14:02:22Z Comment by Willy hot!!!! 2014-03-21T10:15:56Z Comment by Nalanisbelly lovely 2014-03-13T19:50:53Z Comment by Sisterdeie This is so hot. 2014-02-02T05:56:20Z Comment by Lvn Lgt Strictly Reposts interesting magical flow. "Love Life, Live Legit" fb.com/dannydvinci 2013-12-17T20:29:13Z Comment by Dinamyte speed it up speed it up guitarzzzzz 2013-12-14T10:32:30Z Comment by Mabinuori Kayode Idowu Mabinuori Kayode Idowu The picture above of Fela was taken by the French photographer Bernard Matussière in 1981 in his Paris studio if my memories are intact. He authorised me to use the picture for my book-cover: Fela-Phenomenon & Legacy. Today it is been used by the Knitting Factory Records for Red Hot + Fela video contest advertisement? If this is done with the intention of following in our foot-steps (projecting the right image of FELA) I will say welcome to the club to members of Knitting Factory Records. This is a far cry from those who want to create sensation with pictures of Fela in his underpants or with big “jumbo” marijuana in his mouth. Remember in the wake of the Fela Broadway musical, I warned us of the danger of transforming Fela’s image into commercial stuff – I was proven right with the publicity of Japan Felabration producing g-string and bikinis of Fela. Thanks to my intervention reminding Fela’s Japanese fans that if they consider normal Fela’s image on g-strings they should do the same with Hiroshima and Nagasaki images. The offensive images have since been withdrawn. It is important to remain vigilant to the kinds of images projected of Fela, so that he does not end-up like Ché Guevara with his image on g-strings & bikinis. El Ché’s main contribution to the struggle was swept under the carpet with massive commercial materials. For those that are not aware, thanks to Ché Guevara, Latin American countries have continued the struggle to the point where we have Hugo Chavez, etc. The picture above you can compare with other pictures of Fela 10 years after to give us an idea when he got infected with the HIV virus. Finally, like we say in France “all work merit payment”, I hope the Knitting Factory Records won’t forget to send a cheque to Bernard Matussière for his fantastic work with the picture. November 11 at 4:48pm · Like · 1 Mabinuori Kayode Idowu L'image ci-dessus de Fela a été prise par le photographe français Bernard Matussière en 1981 dans son atelier parisien, si mes souvenirs sont intacts. Il m'a autorisé à utiliser l'image pour la couverture de mon livre : « Fela - Phénomène & héritage » Aujourd'hui, il est été utilisé par Knitting Factory Records pour l’annonce de leur concours de vidéo « Red Hot + Fela ». Si cela est fait avec l'intention de marcher dans nos pas (en montrant la vraie image de FELA), je vais dire : « bienvenue au club » aux membres de Knitting Factory Records. Cette photo est bien loin des images à sensation que l’on montre souvent de Fela sur des slips, ou d’un Fela fumant un grand « Jumbo » de marijuana.. Rappelez-vous qu’après la sortie de la comédie musicale de FELA Broadway, je nous mettais en garde contre le danger de l’utilisation de l'image de FELA à des fins commerciales (fabrication de g-strings, bikinis etc.) C’est le même sort qui a été réservé à Che GUEVARA avec sa photo partout sur des sous-vêtements, des briquets etc. Dans tout ces labyrinthes commerciaux ont a oublié l’essentiel de son combat et de sa disparition. Pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas la contribution du El Ché dans le combat anti-impérialiste de l’Amérique latine, je précise que c’est grâce à lui que l’Amérique latine a réussi à avoir un grand chef d’Etat comme Hugo CHAVEZ et d’autres. Cela me rend triste et je ne veux pas que la même situation se reproduise avec notre cher FELA. Ma prédiction s’est malheureusement réalisée, en effet, l’équipe Felabration japonaise a produit ce type de supports commerciaux à l’effigie de FELA . Je leur ai fait part de ma désapprobation car ce type d’action ne fait pas justice à tout ce que symbolise FELA, elle est à l’opposé de son éthique et de son combat. Leur réponse : « c’est normal au Japon » me laisse encore perplexe. Je leur ai donc soumis l’idée de faire la même chose avec les images d’HIROSHIMA et de NAGASAKI - je précise aux fans de FELA que je ne suis pas anti g-strings, rassurez-vous chers fans, mais pas comme ça s’il vous plait- . Je crois que mon appel a été entendu car ils ont retiré ce produit sur les réseaux sociaux. Maintenant je souhaiterais faire une digression pour attirer votre attention sur cette image prise en 1981 où l’on voit un Fela en bonne forme comparées aux images prises 10 ans après qui nous montrent un Fela amoindrie. Cela nous permet de deviner à quelle période il a été affecté par la maladie du VIH. Enfin, comme on dit en France "tout travail mérite salaire". J’espère que les Knitting Factory Records n’oublieront pas d'envoyer un chèque à Bernard Matussière pour son travail fantastique avec l'image. 2013-11-14T08:24:12Z Comment by Freddy Turner dope 2013-10-08T18:55:30Z Comment by Mabinuori Kayode Idowu Dear Friends, brothers and sisters please find the link to my new work titled Fela-Phenomenon & Legacy e-book version and paper copy http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C4QS9LK Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in his life-time, was not only controversial he was an enigma and cultural icon. The circumstance of his transition from earth was no less contentious and he has remained the subject of rave reviews, debates, and study even in death. To those who knew him and his countless followers he was in his own right the Black President, a Chief Priest, King, exponent of Black music and culture. However, to a class of elites with Christian and Moslem values (especially those in authority in Nigeria), he was an iconoclast, a hooligan, Indian hemp smoker, trouble-shooter and a “political non-starter”. Some of them articulate and privileged enough to write in journals and newspapers, have described him as an Afro-centric who personified a new counter-culture by the glorification of social rascality. In their criticisms and appraisal of Fela’s several brushes with the authorities in Nigeria, Fela was considered as politically naïve and that he sought transmogrify from his indisputable and phenomenal stage success to a serious minded political actor especially at a most trying period for the nation which had been under military rule with zero tolerance for dissent. Fela may well not be the best friend or idol of many in the Nigerian establishment especially because he posed a formidable threat to their corrupt and exploitative dispositions. However, this should not diminish his right to hold opinions and make comments on the affairs of his country as I affirmed in my first work: Fela, Why Blackman Carry Shit. His approach may not conform to their norms and possibly was seen as dippy, this does not erase the fact that many of his songs or comments - though biting satires or outright attacks on establishment, they remain profound and or altruistic. They remained pointers to genuine African self respecting ways, to keep our common patrimony as Africans and Nigeria in particular. As expected of a ruthless government that had grown accustomed to being fawned at, deferred to and obeyed unquestioningly by the political and so-called educated elite, they regarded Fela’s comments as a threat to their establishment. Taunted and afraid, of losing their grip on a society that for many years have been deprived of their basic liberties, such government normally does not take Fela’s criticism lying low. They frequently returned his attacks which at best were verbal with brutal physical suppression applying instruments of state terror the police and the army. One of 20th Century Jazz music icons in: “MILES – The autobiography” by Quincy Troupe, affirmed that ‘the music of one Fela Anikulapo-Kuti from West Africa would be the music of the 21st Century’. In 1989 when the book was first published, who would have thought Miles would be so right in his predictions? Today, the certitude of Miles Davis can be seen and heard from all the hues and cries of Fela and afrobeat music around the world. Apart from Cheikh Anta Diop, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, and Theophile Obenga, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is also another personage that have contributed immensely towards African awareness in the last half of the 20th Century and beginning of the 21st Century. Using music as a weapon in his special musical creation called afrobeat, Fela invited Africans and Diaspora Africans to be proud of their African heritage as he sang in Blackman’s Cry. The production of the new Broadway musical “FELA” in New York and later in the year in London, featuring dancers in the aisles of a theatre decorated like his Nigerian nightclub with the music and choreography of the show, a testimony to the employ that Fela’s name is taking. It is great to see Fela becoming a household name, but with all the hues and cries we should not forget the essential part of FELA’S message: “My music is not for entertainment! My music is to spread a message!” The 21st century message of Fela to a capitalist world is: capitalism where morality is not capital is a shame and got to stop. It is not morally right to use the social welfare contributions of the masses to bail-out big banks during economic crises, while the same system considers providing health care for all as socialism. This is the important part of afrobeat message, Fela should not be only a commercial success on Broadway and Wall Street, Fela’ ideas should be heard on Pennsylvania Avenue, Downing Street, Elysée, and all the seats of power around the globe. Please pass the message! Regards M.K.IDOWU aka ID 2013-10-05T08:58:26Z Comment by Dele Kool Ajayi Afro-Beat with a French twist.a Nice Blend of Fela's Setiwa ni o Lyrics and French RAP . 2013-09-28T21:56:09Z Comment by Clandestino Festival Moja! 2013-09-11T20:11:26Z Comment by dijjaay Balojised-fabuloso!!! 2013-09-06T12:55:54Z Comment by Mr Woffles Great Tune Thanks. 2013-09-04T23:12:48Z Comment by Reduxe TUNE! 2013-09-04T10:51:55Z Comment by AfroBase Radio A favourite Fela tune and inventive top deck version. 2013-09-03T18:03:27Z Comment by d_j_kamy ça swing le blues africain tout ça ! Bless Sorcier ! 2013-09-03T11:23:10Z Comment by Darwin R Medina Fonseca Great! 2013-09-02T02:08:39Z Comment by Cloak Dagger dope. 2013-08-30T17:56:36Z Comment by Bando https://soundcloud.com/bandopr/oruro 2013-08-29T18:02:30Z Comment by Bando The original africa man!!!! 2013-08-29T17:59:10Z