Long Live the King

James Brown has nothing on him. KING SUNNY ADE, 49, has to be the hardest-working man in music. In his native Nigeria he has released more than 100 albums since the 1960s. King of the "juju" sound-officially crowned in a 1977 state ceremony-he popularized his exuberant African rhythms with several whirlwind world tours in the '80s. Exhaustion forced a retirement four years ago, but his fans soon lured him aback. Now doing eight live shows a week, he has recorded a new CD, E Dide (Get Up). His message? "Enjoy yourself, dance , be happy and go home." A royally good idea.

Source: "Long Live the King," Julie K.L. Dam, Time International, November 27, 1995, p.79.


Fela

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, born in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1938, is a singer-composer, trumpet, sax and keyboard player, bandleader, and politician. Kuti is one of Afri-ca's most controversial musicians and has continued to fight for the rights of the common man (and woman) despite vilification, harassment, and even imprisonment by the government of Nigeria. Born to Yoruban parents, Kuti was strongly influenced by both parents, his mother being Funmilayo, a leading figure in the nationalist struggle. Practically all of his records are dominated by political events and discussions from the approach of Pan-Africanism....Kuti [continues his] attacks on the Nigerian gov-ernment. When the people returned to power in 1979, Kuti began his own political party - MOP (Movement of the People). The military returned to power in 1983 and within the year Kuti was sentenced to five years in prison on a spurious currency smuggling charge. He was released in 1986 after yet another change of government.

Source: Encyclopedia of African Music

An extract from "ITT":

Them who write big English for newspaper devalue we Africans / I read about one of them inside book like that and calling 'em the ITT / Them go be cause confusion, cause corruption, cause oppression, cause inflation...

Source: Original Sufferhead. Fela Kouti. Shanachie. 1991.