Nigerian bandleader Fela Ransome-Kuti (1938-1997) was the undisputed king of Afro-Beat music, recording dozens of groove-filled albums over a decades-long career. He took his musical inspiration from American funk pioneer James Brown, whose maxim of "playing on the one," or concentrating the power of a large band almost entirely on a syncopated downbeat, became the foundation for Fela's distinctive jazz-laden Afro-funk sound. Like many African musicians in the post-colonial era, Fela cut his teeth in various small dance bands, performing and recording typical Nigerian highlife songs through most of the 1960s. Gradually, he developed his own brand of dance music, a more aggressive, rhythm-heavy style he named "afro-beat". The style incorporated elements of American jazz and funk, with an emphasis on long, improvisational jams and guidance by the unrelenting drumming of Fela's longtime collaborator, Tony Allen.

The other major element of Fela's music was his uncompromised and strident politics. Over the decades, Fela repeatedly ran afoul of Nigeria's various authoritarian regimes, resulting in several arrests, beatings and political trials. In the early 1980s, after the dissolution of his personal political party, Fela was sentenced to five years in prison, but was released in 1986 after the return to civilian government. Many of his songs are lengthy diatribes about political issues; some are more general calls for political action or social justice, many also deal with the particulars of his life and his clashes with the Nigerian government. Fela changed his last name, in 1976, to Anikulapo-Kuti, a move which had radical political connotations. Likewise, his band name changed over the years to reflect his changing artistic and political directions. In the mid-1990s, Fela became seriously ill, finally succumbing to AIDS-related disease in 1997, becoming one on the most prominent African celebrities to die from HIV disease to date.

NOTE: Many of Fela's releases, including many listed below, were singles. Later on I hope to clarify which of these titles are full-lengths and which are singles or EPs.

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Highlife Rakers "Aigana" (1960)

The Highlife Jazz Band "Onifere" (1966)

The Highlife Jazz Band "Yeshe Yeshe" (1966)

The Highlife Jazz Band "Mr. Who Are You" (1967)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "The '69 Los Angeles Sessions" (Sterns, 1969/1993)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Highlife Jazz Band "Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Highlife Jazz Band" (1969)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "Blackman's Cry" (1970)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "Viva Africa" (1970)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "Fela's London Scene" (1970)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "Lady" (1970)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "White Man To Suffer" (1970)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "Wayo" (1970)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "Who Are You" (1971)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "Nai Poi" (1971)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Nigeria 70 "Shenshema" (1971)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Why Black Man Dey Suffer" (1971)
Note the name change (and attendant shift from nationalism to pan-Africanism...)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Open And Close" (1971)
Reissued on CD along with Afrodisiac

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 (with Ginger Baker) "Live!" (1971)

Ginger Baker (with Fela Ransome-Kuti) "Stratavarious" (1971)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Alijon-Jon-Ki-Jon" (1972)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Egbe Mi O b/w Chop & Quench" (1972)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Shakara" (1972)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Na Poi" (1972)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Afrodisiac" (1973)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Gentleman" (1973)
Reissued on CD along with 1975's Confusion

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Alagbon Close" (1974)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "He Miss Road " (1975)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Fela's Budget Special" (1975)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Expensive S**t" (1975)
Great record -- one of Fela's best. This is definitely one of the most accessible to the casual listener; other Fela discs may be better suited to the hardcore fan. This disc has a solid, funky groove running throughout, with soulful keyboards that anchor the whole sound, and less emphasis on the aggressive baritone sax lines that dominate most of Fela's music. It's groovalicious and every bit as hypnotic and trance-inducing as any of his other albums. If you want to check Fela out, this is a pretty good place to start.

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Noise For Vendor Mouth" (1975)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Everything Scatter" (1975)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Confusion" (1975)
Reissued on CD along with Gentleman

Tony Allen & The Africa 70 "Jealousy" (1975)
(with Fela Ransome-Kuti)

Fela Ransome-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Kalakuta Show" (1976)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Ikoyi Blindness" (1976)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Yellow Fever" (1976)
A two-song LP that is among his more accessible albums. The opening track is one of Fela's groovier and more delicious highlife-tinged juju jams, with slinky keyboards and some truly amazing saxophone work. His horn charts often bug the hell out of me, but for this album the sax work sounds really nice. The rhythm and vocal chorus on the title track are easily recognizable for their African roots, and there's less of a jazz-funk vibe overall, more of an international pop/world beat feel. Recommended for the casual listener. (Reissued on CD along with Na Poi.)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Na Poi" (1976)
The song "Na Poi," which was first heard on the Yellow Fever album, is reprised here in a more jagged, difficult form. Although the two albums were reissued together on CD, this album is definitely more challenging to get through... A lot of variety and unusual arrangements, and a heavier avant-jazz undercurrent. Less my cup of tea, but still pretty interesting.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti & The Africa 70 "Up Side Down" (1976)
A mellower Fela album, closer in tone to slicker ju-ju artists such as King Sunny Ade... This disc has two tracks, "Up Side Down" and "Go Slow", both of which have sleek, danceable melodic grooves. A very listenable Fela album.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "No Bread" (1976)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Before I Jump Like Monkey Give Me Banana" (1976)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Again, Excuse O" (1976)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Zombie" (1976)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "J.J.D." (1977)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and The Africa 70 "Sorrow, Tears, And Blood" (1977)
Reissued on CD along with Opposite People

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Opposite People" (1977)
Reissued on CD along with Sorrow, Tears and Blood

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Stalemate" (1977)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Fear Not for Man" (1977)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Why Black Man Dey Suffer" (1977)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Observation No Crime" (1977)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "I Go Shout Plenty" (1977)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "No Agreement" (1977)

Tony Allen & The Africa 70 "Progress" (1977)
With Fela.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Sorrow, Tears And Blood" (1977)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Shuffering And Shimiling" (1977)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Unknown Soldier" (1979)
Reissued on CD along with Coffin For Head of State

Fela Anikulapo Kuti "V.I.P." (1979)
Reissued on CD along with Authority Stealing

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Authority Stealing" (1980)
Reissued on CD along with V.I.P.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Music Of Many Colors" (1980)
With Roy Ayers.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Coffin For Head Of State" (1981)
Reissued on CD along with Unknown Soldier

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Original Sufferhead" (1981)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Africa 70 "Sorrow Tears And Blood/Colonial Mentality" (1981)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Parambulator" (1983)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Live In Amsterdam: Music Is The Weapon" (1984)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Army Arrangement" (1985)
Reissued on CD along with Government Chicken Boy

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense" (1985)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Beasts Of No Nation" (1989)
Reissued on CD along with Overtake Don Overtake Overtake

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Overtake Don Overtake Overtake" (1989)
Reissued on CD along with Beasts Of No Nation

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Confusion Break Bones" (1990)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Just Like That" (1990)

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti & The Egypt 70 "Underground System" (Stern's Africa, 1992)

Fela Anikulapo Kuti "Original Sufferhead: Classic Fela" (Shanachie Records, 1991)
Early Eighties material... Four whole songs, averaging 15 minute apiece

Fela Kuti "The Best Of Fela Kuti" (MCA Records, 2000)
A 2-CD set.

Fela Kuti "Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense" (1984)

Fela Kuti "Fela Live" (Shanachie, 1991)
Recorded in 1984.

The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble "The Allenko Brotherhood Ensemble" (Shanachie Records, 2002)
Tony Allen was the much-revered drummer for Fela Kuti's legendary Africa 70 ensemble; as such he was largely responsible for crafting the relentlessly infectious, driving marathon beat of the Nigerian supergroup. This remix project features a host of artists, from soul-oriented rappers to electronic mixmasters. Several tracks, particularly the instrumentals, are appropriately hypnotic and captivating, while some of the vocal numbers seem a bit off the mark. Maybe that's because Allen's genius was rhythmic and nonverbal, and by wedding his work to flavor-of-the-day lyrics, it pulls the listener in unnecessary directions. Anyway, keep in mind that's just my reaction, and I'm pretty picky. Afro-beat fans will not be disappointed by this album.

Femi Kuti "Shoki Shoki" (MCA/Barclay France, 2000)
Fela's son, with a sharp, no-nonsense pop release. This starts off with the dynamic, aggressive, and irresistible "Truth Don Die", a lightly political dance tune with a hyperactive beat that just won't quit. The rest of the album mellows down pretty quickly, dipping into lite jazz motifs from time to time. Overall, though, I'd say Femi has got the goods to take over where the old man left off. Definitely worth checking out.

Femi Kuti "Fight To Win" (MCA/Barclay France, 2001)
This disc delves deeper into "world beat" crossover territory... When the band is blazing away, it's tight, compact and compelling. But a few touches -- a chord change here, a production twist there -- may raise warning flags for a few listeners. Also, the decision to sing the songs in English may be a drawback, both because Femi seems uneasy with the rhythm of the language, and because the baldness of his revolutionary politics comes off as belabored and a bit flat aesthetically -- distracting, overall. But for those of us looking for a funky soundtrack to the revolution that will not be televised, this could certainly fill the bill. Not my cup of tea, but Fela/Femi fans should find plenty here to keep them happy.

• Wikipedia: Fela Kuti

• Discogs: Fela Kuti

• is possibly the best Fela discography site, with information about Fela's numerous early highlife singles, various international versions of his releases, and tantalizing info about several unreleased recordings. Complete with pictures of the original records and record labels.

• Roots World has a nice entry on Fela, along with a discography which I gratefully acknowledge as the main source for the listings above.

• The African Music Encyclopedia goes a little more in depth about Fela's life (and has a lot of info about other African pop and Afro-Beat artists to check out as well!)

• Sound Mboss includes what seems to be a truncated version of the African Music Encyclopedia entry, along with a discography which includes some alternate issues and albums not included in the Roots World listing.

• The Fela Project is one of the most comprehensive Fela websites, aiming at being sort of a clearinghouse for all things Fela-rific.

• If you like Afro-Beat, you may also be interested in checking out my Brazilian Soul discography, to see how the African pop beat blossomed in the heart of South America.

African Music Index
World Music Index