🎷 Legend #20: Fela Kuti – The Pioneer of Afrobeat

 

🎷 Legend #20: Fela Kuti – The Pioneer of Afrobeat

Revolutionary in rhythm and message, Fela Kuti created Afrobeat, a bold fusion of jazz, funk, and West African highlife, delivering hypnotic grooves with searing political commentary.



🌍 Music as a Weapon

Songs like Water No Get Enemy, Zombie, and Sorrow, Tears, and Blood challenged oppression and championed African unity. Fela’s fearless activism made him both a hero and a target in his homeland, Nigeria.

🎺 The Shrine Lives On

His legendary Lagos venue, The Shrine, became a cultural hub where music and activism merged.



🌍 At the Global Musical Village:

  • Afrobeat Arena – A vibrant open-air space for African music and dance

  • The Shrine Experience – A re-creation of Fela’s iconic club atmosphere

  • Afrobeat School – Drumming, horn, and rhythm workshops

  • Taste of Lagos – Nigerian cuisine served with live Afrobeat sessions

🎵 “Music is the weapon of the future.” – Fela Kuti

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