By any standard, Fela Anikulapo Kuti is the most controversial musician that ever came out of Nigeria. By the time he died of AIDS related complications on August 2nd 1997, he had created and perfected a music form that can compete favourably with any classical composition for harmonic base and rhythmic pulse.

In addition to his music, Fela was a constant fighter for the down trodden in Nigeria. An unrepentant thorn in the flesh of corrupt leaders, especially the military whose reign of tyranny impoverished the people and held them in a vice grip of terror.

Starting out as a Jazz trumpeter in the style of Thad Jones and Lee Morgan, Fela soon shifted his attention to highlife and his Koola Lobitos band played in the same manner as Victor Olaiya. A committee musician who was always innovating new style, Fela's music finally grew to become a fusion of African Highlife and American Jazz.

BRIEF HISTORY Fela was born in Abeokuta, South West Nigeria on October 15 1938 into the famous Ransome - Kuti family. His father Oludotun was a teacher and preacher. His mother Funmilayo, was a pioneering nationalist who was in the forefront of the fight for universal adult sufferage.

...more On Fela's History