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.
Subtext: Time Warner embraces boot locking "leaders" who adopt complacent messages but...
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 Africa'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 government.
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
Subtext: Most people in the cocoon of Western industrial media-hype never learn about people like Fela
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.
ITT on Fela.