Fela's Tipping Point
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Posted By: Lucille Porter on March 09, 2011 By: R. Asmerom The cream always rises to the top, so they say. In the music marketplace, where marketing and airplay dictate how artistry is exposed and consumed, the cream’s ascent is a bit more complicated. The popularity of Fela Kuti, the Nigerian artist who created the Afrobeat genre and invigorated the world music scene with his blend of jazz, funk and Yoruba music, exemplifies how a great thing can go relatively unnoticed by a wide audience. From the late 1960s until his death in 1997, Kuti was slowly building a name for himself not only as a musical innovator but as a political activist. His critically-praised music often integrated his anti-colonial and anti-corruption ideals. There was a lot to admire about Fela. But unfortunately, unlike his peer Bob Marley, Kuti’s message and music never really caught on in the United States, until recently that is. In 2009, the musical Fela! hit Broadway and ignited major interest in the life and music of the man who was known as the “James Brown of Africa.” Read More.. http://atlantapost.com/2011/03/04/felas-ti... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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