While taking a cab from work to COOL OUT a few months back, i started chatting with the driver as i often do. Finding out that he was a native of Nigeria, i asked if he was a fan of Fela Kuti. "Woah", he said "i used to go to his club Afro Spot (later re-named Afrika Shrine) all the time when i was young! At least once a week...". I wanted to tell him to stop the cab so i could jump in the front seat and start picking his brain. But i was already running late, so instead i just started bombarding him with questions in hopes that i might better understand what it was like seeing the man perform, not just live, but in his element. He told me that the experience was unreal and very empowering. I can't remember everything he said, but i think the one quote that sums him up best was this..."he was a man bigger than Nigeria itself." Nuff said.
To find out more, here is the beginning of the Fela documentary that tells the amazing story behind the musical genius. The rest can be found on Youtube:
And an earlier track w/ the Africa '70 as Fela Ransome Kuti:
**btw we start COOL OUT with a Fela track every week so it pays to get there early!**
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