Mr Fela Anikulapo Kuti (Fela)

Former musician and protest leader

Date of Birth: 15/10/1938
Place of Birth: Abeokuta, Nigeria
Died: 02/08/1997

Married to Remilekun Taylor, 3 children, Femi, Yeni and Sola

Education: Music, Trinity College of Music, London, United Kingdom, 1958.

Career: Singer/songwriter, Koola Lobitos, London, 1958-63; moved back to Nigeria, 1963; Koola Lobitos reformed, 1963; took Koola Lobitos to the United States, 1969; Koola Lobitos renamed Africa ‘70, 1970; returned to Nigeria, 1970; Founder, Kalakuta Republic, 1970; hit album Zombie released, 1977; formed political party, Movement of the People, 1979; put himself forward for presidential elections, candidature refused, 1979; formed Egypt ‘80, 1980; jailed for currency smuggling, 1984-85; arrested and charged with murder, 1993; Olikoye Ransome-Kuti announces Fela's death, 1997.

Commentary: The father of afrobeat, Fela Kuti was one of Nigeria’s most famous singer-songwriters. Heavily influenced by the Black Power movement in his early years, he became a voice for the politically oppressed in Nigeria and a tireless campaigner for human rights. His vociferous attacks against injustice made him the recipient of a steady barrage of harassment from powerful figures but also earned him great respect from those who loved his music and his message.