Comments on: Remembering Fela

By: Cliff

Cliff — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:41:34 +0000

I am glad you wrote this piece. Didn’t know you knew about him.

He was a legend to many of us who grew up in Africa in the 70s. There is no-one in hip hop poetry and rap that comes close..The only ones I can think of are perhaps the Last Poets and Public Enemy.

Well done!

By: DCI74

DCI74 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:43:48 +0000

Yeah Andre Fela is a legend few outside the US know about. My first instrument as a child was the sax which Fela was also played so I’ve been aware of his music since I was a kid but didn’t know anything about his political influence until I was in college. and by then I had also been exposed to his son Femi. Fela’s catalog is ridiculous and one of my favorite albums of all time is Music of Many Colours, a collaboration he did with another legend Roy Ayers. If you get a chance check out the Fela tribute cd Red Hot and Riot, featuring Femi, dead prez, D’Angelo, Common, Sade and many other really powerful artists.

By: Persnickety Snit

Persnickety Snit — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:31:59 +0000

Thanks for the shout out in memory of Fela. Can you elaborate on the “empirically unfounded ‘Down Low’ discourse, which has contributed to highly problematic policy decisions”? Thanks.

By: ~JJG~

~JJG~ — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:03:25 +0000

I remember seeing a play/musical last year about his life. I can recall the actors singling “Fela, Fela, Fela Kuti.” The dance and music was on point. R.I.P. Fela!

By: Andre

Andre — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:29:02 +0000

‘Sup DC. I was thinking the EXACT same thing. Let the heavens open and pour down upon us punishing plagues should we ever question the legacy of certain cultural icons. *Cough* El-Boogie *Cough*

On the real, I shamefully admit that I never heard of Fela until stopping by Marc’s joint. This is likely a combination of the lack of mainstream attention he has generated and my own laziness in learning about him. So thanks for the introduction, Marc.

By: zak

zak — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:47:37 +0000

No one knows about Fela. Water Get No Enemy–the shit.

By: DCI74

DCI74 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:47:37 +0000

Marc this is the only site I visit that even mentioned Fela’s birthday let alone his influence beyond music. As a fan of culture, real music and powerful people I appreciate you posting this piece. It’s funny how people want to get bent out of shape over Elvis yet seem to be clueless as to Fela’s legacy.