Hello everyone, and thank you all for watching Fela's Zombie on the "Official Fela UA-cam Channel". We seen the amount of love this song gets around the world, so from us "Thank you very much :D".We would love you to continue the Fela Express on this channel by subscribing here ► goo.gl/8Q1pVw Take care and everyone say "Yeah Yeah" (y)
I didn't even know Fela Kuti existed, four weeks ago. But since, I could never ignore it anymore ! Free, brilliant, and so arrogant ! As a french star !
So true... see, I'm oyibo, and lived best part of 1998-2003 in Rivers and Delta... Abacha was just dead when I arrived in the country, the sensation was like the country was finally ready to take off. I met true wonderful people and real friends there, and now, 20 years later, wondering where they can now be and how are they now doing, it's a gut wrenching feeling to see how things went down for this beautiful people/country.
Did you know that rank-and-file Nigerian soldiers used to joyfully carry out parade drills to this song when their senior officers were not watching? Fela the musical genius skilfully crafted it in 2/4-4/4 time, which is the military marching tempo across all armies of the planet.! And the soldiers would make moves to “obey” every order in the lyrics: “attention, fall back, fall out, quick march, turn round, left turn, right turn, about turn, double up, open your hat, stand at ease, salute, HALT‼️”… etc. 😂 Fela’s irresistible rhythms made him the darling of even his most inveterate adversaries‼️
This music was the making of Fela; not least for the brutal reaction of the Nigerian Army to his critique of their behaviour. I remember listening to the music as a 12 year old and saying to myself 'Oh, Fela will get into trouble for this.' And he sure did, But nobody imagined a 1000 soldiers matching on Kalakuta, manhandling his mother leading to her death, and destroying all copies of his original work to date ... Army Arrangement, Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, Original Sufferhead and Beast of No Nation in the 80s are testimonies to Fela's irrepressive sense of fairness and justice for all of his countrymen. No hyperbole, Yoruba myself, Fela is my favourite Yoruba man and African. The Lord bless you for daring to speak truth to power. Rest in Peace - Anikulapo
Really smart to have thought Fela would get into trouble when you were only 12 years old... almost sounds like a lie but i know you won't lie Apostle right?
Am an American last time I visited Nigeria in 2001 visiting Fela shrine was the main reason, I got negative comments about traveling to Nigeria but i had fun and not all bad comments are true about Nigerians. Nigeria problems are the bad governments that was the weapon Fela used at them and his music lives on.
yep... I am Canadian and I have learned that the area we now call Nigeria has been the cradle of some incredible cultures and civilizations for a long, long time. I hope the absolute best for the future of Nigeria and its surrounding countries, because they have A LOT to show and teach to the rest of us.
As a young girl growing up in moshalashi, Lagos. I grew up listening to his songs daily, instrumentals surpassing basic mindset opening doors to the problems of Nigeria. I am currently 16 moved out of Nigeria and reminisce how we took for granted such tunes and will play this for my generations to come and remind them of BABA 70 and his legacy.
Nigeria needs this same attitude now so they can get their country back. I’m a white dude from Mississippi and digging this music and the scream for freedom
I'm not Nigerian but I was married to an Ibo and he introduced me to High Life and Fela has always been my most favorite of all the greats. Until this day after the separation of my marriage, I still listen to his great musical talent. To me he is the King of High life 👑 RIP Fela Anikupta Kuti 👑💖
If you know the circumstances surrounding the song, you'll be even more shocked that he had the bravery to put out the song. Allowing women to mock soldiers (something African men find humiliating) under military rule and referring to them as zombies for following orders blindly. It was glaring he was talking about the military when he started saying; "quick march,slow march,about turn, salute....". An the military junta reacted angrily.
It pains me to realize how much more people should be opening their ears and minds to the Afrobeat King. As long as i breathe, Brazil will continue to listen to him loud. Long live Fela's ideals of a peaceful and musical land. Long live Kalakuta.
Fela was a man, and just ONE. The point: one person can do a lot, and if we all come together, as free people, unite and work together, nothing can stop that unified and magnified power...the intent: push back in the face of oppression, etc. (his context); the negative inverse: tyranny of a mass...; the struggle: find the open, inclusive, middle ground where we're all cool, have enough, and are free to live, love, express, and "be".
In 1971, I was privileged to watch him play Mr WHO ARE YOU live in Accra, and many could hear the vibrations some kilometers away.........it was AMAZING !!
@Jyestha King I fail to see the correlation between introducing people to great music and my proficiency as an individual. Could it be that you're talking nonsense? I think it is. Shoo, back to your hidey hole, and let the grown ups talk, child.
This music is so invigorating , colorful, hypnotnic , masterfully played and organized , there are also moments in a lot of these songs that are pure comedy ! ( for ex. In this song when fela mockingly shouts “ DIIISMISSED !! in a high pitch voice ) ... I just discovered this , water no get enemy, lady, No sleep yanga wake AM, and Couple other songs by Mr. Kuti a week or so ago and I am absolutely obsessed . Why did it take me so long to learn of this Brilliant Revolutionary Man ?!?
My Ghanaian dad loved different types of music he would sit me down with my siblings every Saturday listening to fela kuti rest in power a talented no nonsense african king❤
About 40yrs later Zombies did their worst on innocent youths protesting for their future at Lekki toll gate 20/10/2020. The generations of those behind the senseless massacre will not know peace Amen.
First time I heard this song was in 1977...The radio station I worked at got this album and put it in the trash...Was the best day of my life...I had found the king of Africa...FELA🔥🔥🔥
sajidh amin as an Afrikan American, he changed my way of looking at poetry, life, and music in general. He is the voice that raises me from my straw hut in the early throes of morning dusk...just saying
Fela knows full well that he's endangering his own life by writing these lyrics, but he just goes out of his way to stick his middle finger in front of the Nigerian soldiers and government anyway. If Fela isn't a badass I don't know what he is.
Tommy Hass Considering the Nigerian government burned down his recording studio (and tapes), killed half his staff members and his grandmother and then drove him out from the country, why shouldn't he?
Man do some research military coup en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_coups_in_Nigeria#The_July_1966_coup regime under: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakubu_Gowon nigeria civil war: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War who's using violence?
@IntrepidFinch Yes, the Americas are continents. The United States of 'America' was the first independent nation in the New World (the Americas). That's why the nickname "Americans" stuck for the people of the United States of America. Ask Europeans... They call us Americans. I know South Americans are all butthurt about it, but we were also the first and only country in the Americas with "America" in our name.
Thanks to the Afrobeat historian (Chris May), the write up accompanying this song here sure sheds light on what happened. RIP Anikulapo. Baba '70. Me too say "yeah yeah!"
12 minutes of pure musical genius and a fat middle finger to the military dictatorship in Nigeria rolled into one truly magnificent masterpiece of a composition
Fela was like a teacher of wisdom teaching the youth about the future politics and characteristic of governmental attitude towards people of Nigeria, look and learning careful into melody of the music of fela kuti, also check mate our current society of today. What is really the difference in our leadership legacy of this century and now fela kuti has gone beyond our hearen, who will free this great country of corruption now, obasanjo has failed, buhari has failed who is Next
Fela was a man of unbelievable courage. Despite the incredible violence of the Nigerian Army against him and his followers, he continued to goad the authorities with his brilliant music. Even when he was offered vast sums of money by other record companies, he turned them down. He was a true visionary who never sold out to anybody.
Just watched “Get on Up”, the biopic of James Brown. Made me think of Fela talking about visiting the US, and hearing James Brown for the first time. His idea of creating a fusion of African rhythms and Funk was brilliant!
Given that Fela Kuti was deeply inspired by James Brown's success as a black man in America, yet few speak about the hate and prejudice that he harboured against homosexuality and certain white folks. Pathetic euro-centric institutions appointed Fela Kuti as an "ambassador of human rights". Kuti, a classic megalomaniac towards the end of his life, the erstwhile 'afro-cult' struck down by AIDS, he started calling his music “African classical music” - and is quoted in a new film saying "you wouldn’t expect composers like Mozart or Beethoven to write three-minute numbers, so why should I?" What's worse certain popular liberal musicians (Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel etc) remained 'mute' about Fela having multiple wives and spurting hatred for LGBTQ folks.
Admin, should have written a short story explaining the reasons for the song, and the government reaction after Fela released this song. It's good younger generation understood what Fela did to make Nigeria and Africa great. Thanks.
This song is so cool! I was led by a mention of Fela from a member of the old band The Talking Heads during an interview on the channel Professor of Rock, and I'm very happy for this! What wonderful music!
This song was written as a protest on what was happening in Nigeria back then. Of course, you can imagine that Fela's actions, alongside with the song itself, didn't make the government quite happy. All this ended up in the government attacking his family. His mother was thrown from her balcony which costed her life. All that tragedy didn't stop Fela from performing this song.
Dear Fela! 💥 The 2020 #endsars #endswat #notmypresident #buharimustgo etc protests are on. The youths are fighting to take their country back from the tyrants. We are still here, Fela. You live on! Anikulapo! The man who has death in his pocket. You live on!
from a corner of my colombian caribbean caribbean coast we listened to these songs in the pickups of our cities with feeling and joy to our african ancestors years that will not return beautiful 70s of our childhood
Fela Kuti was a revolutionary and used his talent and art to actually make an impact. So fucking important. He was a King! "Music is a spiritual thing. Don't mess play with music" -Fela Kuti.
I'm in my 30s and remember my parents always listening to this song. Still gives me chills till this day. Brought back memories hearing it on Black lightning.
God you're blessed to have cool parents with soul. MY parents rarely listened to music (and most of that was easy listening type stuff), but at least I had an older brother turned me on to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Alice Cooper. But most of the music I loved as a boy growing up in the '60s in white bread surburbia came from the TV... West Side Story, Elvis Comeback special, Jonny Quest theme, ad jingles. But I digress. Fela and Africa 70 are really kicking some serious butt on this record; the previous listen, "Open and Close" (1971), however, was a bit too tame for my tastes. The fact that THIS record stimulated the State Goon Squad ("unknown soldiers," ha ha) to chuck Fela's mom out a second story window among many other heinous crimes of violence makes me consider: was it worth it? Nigeria hasn't seemed to have changed very much from what I've read in various comment threads, so I don't know.
I'd love to see the current protesters start yelling "Zombie" at the police while they're marching. The sentiment might be decades old, but it's still as relevant today as when Fela Kuti first sung the lyrics.
Hello Baligh. I'm glad you enjoyed listening to Zombie and reading the history behind the song. Also, thank you for subscribing to the official Fela channel, this means a lot to us. Take Care Baligh "yeah yeah" (y)
Fela music to an older generation must have felt western although he was reclaiming a lot of identity that colonialism had displaced. He was still a man of his epoch with a unique view.
BABA is the one Nigerian that unites all Nigerians poor or rich, north or south, Christiaan or Muslim (or traditional). Baba was a complex man, very true, and not without deep fundamental flaws, particularly from a retrospective view, but he was a truth teller that no one can argue. Currently there seems to be a lot of focus on his anti-Nigerian govt stances, probably to sell a narrative more easily to the West, however, FELA saved his most biting critiques for colonial white folks and their destructive agendas of the day (and complicit Africans).
Brave genius - we could do with him being around right now. Even Mr Ambience, Brian Eno, dances to this magnificent tune. Tony Allen also deserving of a lot of credit for his magnificent shaping of Fela's Afrobeat (or African music, as Fela would have preferred) rhythms.
This man literally called Margret thatcher, Ronald Reagan and other leaders in united nation animals in human skin on beast of no nation Lol 😂 this man had balls the size of the twin towers
Hello everyone, and thank you all for watching Fela's Zombie on the "Official Fela UA-cam Channel". We seen the amount of love this song gets around the world, so from us "Thank you very much :D".We would love you to continue the Fela Express on this channel by subscribing here ► goo.gl/8Q1pVw Take care and everyone say "Yeah Yeah" (y)
the new guy at work introduced me to this. thank you, fela kuti!
You are a musical genius
You two know Kuti passed away in '97 right?
YEAH YEAH!!!
Fela Kuti boss world
I was privileged to watch Fela perform this live. Fela was the most courageous Nigerian that ever lived.
U're so lucky ❤️😭🙇🏽♀️
You're lucky to have watched him perform live. The likes of fela kuti, lucky dube, i can pay anything to watch them live
@@chimeremeze1506 Glad I got to watch Lucky Dube live, and meet him on stage during a concert :-)
I envy you
I didn't even know Fela Kuti existed, four weeks ago. But since, I could never ignore it anymore ! Free, brilliant, and so arrogant ! As a french star !
Who’s listening in 2024!!! What a master piece. Can Nigeria be worse than it is now? 😢
I swear
So true... see, I'm oyibo, and lived best part of 1998-2003 in Rivers and Delta... Abacha was just dead when I arrived in the country, the sensation was like the country was finally ready to take off.
I met true wonderful people and real friends there, and now, 20 years later, wondering where they can now be and how are they now doing, it's a gut wrenching feeling to see how things went down for this beautiful people/country.
ME! I need more tracks like this one
Me ooo
I'm listening for the 1st time
Did you know that rank-and-file Nigerian soldiers used to joyfully carry out parade drills to this song when their senior officers were not watching? Fela the musical genius skilfully crafted it in 2/4-4/4 time, which is the military marching tempo across all armies of the planet.!
And the soldiers would make moves to “obey” every order in the lyrics: “attention, fall back, fall out, quick march, turn round, left turn, right turn, about turn, double up, open your hat, stand at ease, salute, HALT‼️”… etc. 😂
Fela’s irresistible rhythms made him the darling of even his most inveterate adversaries‼️
Fela !!!! 2024 !!!! Who's listening ???
Am listening to baba all the way from California
ME
BRO
Normal
here
6 - Nov - 2024
This music was the making of Fela; not least for the brutal reaction of the Nigerian Army to his critique of their behaviour. I remember listening to the music as a 12 year old and saying to myself 'Oh, Fela will get into trouble for this.' And he sure did, But nobody imagined a 1000 soldiers matching on Kalakuta, manhandling his mother leading to her death, and destroying all copies of his original work to date ... Army Arrangement, Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense, Original Sufferhead and Beast of No Nation in the 80s are testimonies to Fela's irrepressive sense of fairness and justice for all of his countrymen. No hyperbole, Yoruba myself, Fela is my favourite Yoruba man and African. The Lord bless you for daring to speak truth to power. Rest in Peace - Anikulapo
+Apostle Tone Thank you for the respectful words Apostle
The army proved on that disgraceful day that they were indeed zombies.....Fela was right!
Fela kuti was a real man anyone who would put their life for a song to speak the truth deserves everything in life..
Really smart to have thought Fela would get into trouble when you were only 12 years old... almost sounds like a lie but i know you won't lie Apostle right?
Apostle Tone well said
No one else on planet earth ever dropped an album that brought out a nation's military, except the almighty Fela.. Let that sink in.
Na only him ooo
Na only him ooo
Long live Fela
Well, Uncle Tom's Cabin started the Civil War, according to Lincoln, anyway. that was just a BOOK.
You said it all. It is a comic song but full of message!
Am an American last time I visited Nigeria in 2001 visiting Fela shrine was the main reason, I got negative comments about traveling to Nigeria but i had fun and not all bad comments are true about Nigerians. Nigeria problems are the bad governments that was the weapon Fela used at them and his music lives on.
True
yep... I am Canadian and I have learned that the area we now call Nigeria has been the cradle of some incredible cultures and civilizations for a long, long time. I hope the absolute best for the future of Nigeria and its surrounding countries, because they have A LOT to show and teach to the rest of us.
exactly but it was so painful we lost our hero star I pray may his soul rest in peaceful and perfectly
@@sovietchampagne fr
One of the best middle finger songs of all time imo
Jack Johnson sadly you're right but his legacy and fighting spirit still lives on through his music.
My best in fela
Tom Cruz I think that I’m Tom cruise
@@remi1627 Bobby with that tool!
True
Fela was prophetic in his lyrics talking about the problems of Nigeria caused by bad leadership. The problems are still with us till this day.
As a young girl growing up in moshalashi, Lagos. I grew up listening to his songs daily, instrumentals surpassing basic mindset opening doors to the problems of Nigeria. I am currently 16 moved out of Nigeria and reminisce how we took for granted such tunes and will play this for my generations to come and remind them of BABA 70 and his legacy.
Keep the flag flying love
I found this because of the TV show Bob ❤️s Abishola, I'm so glad. So powerful. 💕 Even my cats perked up. They responded as I was listening to it.
Nigeria needs this same attitude now so they can get their country back. I’m a white dude from Mississippi and digging this music and the scream for freedom
My wife's family is from central MS, a place that could use Fela. I'm very sorry that the cycle could not be broken in 2024.....
A character truly larger than life. An icon, a genius, a visionary. R.I.P. Black President!
I'm not Nigerian but I was married to an Ibo and he introduced me to High Life and Fela has always been my most favorite of all the greats. Until this day after the separation of my marriage, I still listen to his great musical talent. To me he is the King of High life 👑 RIP Fela Anikupta Kuti 👑💖
please look for the one who inspired Fela.. the real King of HIghlife.. E.T Mensah
Igbo**
@@RapharMedia all dis Ghanaians don start again, always claiming every Nigeria success
@@adaezenebe249 it wasn't even, "lgbo" a decade ago. It is actually, "Heebo." Check your history.
This is not highlife this is afrobeat
Fela the great prophet. No Nigerian musician will ever be like you, no one!
Respect, RIPP!
Quite telling that the army responded to Fela's criticism of their violent and nonsensical mindset by... being more violent and nonsensical. Brilliant
Telling anyone they are wrong only reinforces their conviction this is how our mind-ego naturally works.
This guy's music is like nothing else I've ever heard. It's like it's from a higher plane
When I listen to this song I weep for my country called Nigeria.
You're right -- this is what it's like to listen to the birth of a new and brilliant kind of music.
It is from another plane... man was Spiritual
Afrobeat is so beautifully unique
If you know the circumstances surrounding the song, you'll be even more shocked that he had the bravery to put out the song. Allowing women to mock soldiers (something African men find humiliating) under military rule and referring to them as zombies for following orders blindly. It was glaring he was talking about the military when he started saying; "quick march,slow march,about turn, salute....".
An the military junta reacted angrily.
It pains me to realize how much more people should be opening their ears and minds to the Afrobeat King.
As long as i breathe, Brazil will continue to listen to him loud.
Long live Fela's ideals of a peaceful and musical land. Long live Kalakuta.
Yuri VS ♥️
Im impressed my friend I'm im impressed
The sentiment of his message deserves nothing less than the invoked affirmation of his listeners.
In California and digging this! This is talent with a purpose. Much respect.
No Doubt Brother, 👍🏾👊🏾✌🏾🇳🇬🇺🇸
there ain't one wrong step with this song, the soul the intent the artistry. It's a powerhouse of humanity
Much love from 🇬🇧. Just heard Dotun Adebayo talking about this song on his radio show, decided to give it a listen. What a jam!
As a white man living in the Midwest of the U.S.A. Fela touches my soul. His courage and amazing grooves should be an inspiration to us all!
US mil are zombies too. MATA
Did you expect anything else?
@@dodododatdatdatstfu and stand tall upon the praise given!!
Nigeria government see this music as confrontational whereas Fela Anikulapo Kuti was saying the truth.
We are the cause of our problems, the citizens and government share the blame
@@yewandeajayi9545 If the head is sick it will affect the whole body. It is the state of the Nigerian govt being sick in the head.
fela was a special person.
we don't need Messiah's.
just more free people.
At the point Fela says 'one more time everybody', you could feel it he was ready for whatever!
Fela was a man, and just ONE. The point: one person can do a lot, and if we all come together, as free people, unite and work together, nothing can stop that unified and magnified power...the intent: push back in the face of oppression, etc. (his context); the negative inverse: tyranny of a mass...; the struggle: find the open, inclusive, middle ground where we're all cool, have enough, and are free to live, love, express, and "be".
Jesus Is King
In 1971, I was privileged to watch him play Mr WHO ARE YOU live in Accra, and many could hear the vibrations some kilometers away.........it was AMAZING !!
Goodnight Tony Allen...Second to none drummer....🕺🎶🕺🥁🥁🥁
I've made it one of my missions in life to introduce people to Fela's music.
@Jyestha King I fail to see the correlation between introducing people to great music and my proficiency as an individual. Could it be that you're talking nonsense? I think it is. Shoo, back to your hidey hole, and let the grown ups talk, child.
This music is so invigorating , colorful, hypnotnic , masterfully played and organized , there are also moments in a lot of these songs that are pure comedy ! ( for ex. In this song when fela mockingly shouts “ DIIISMISSED !! in a high pitch voice ) ... I just discovered this , water no get enemy, lady, No sleep yanga wake AM, and Couple other songs by Mr. Kuti a week or so ago and I am absolutely obsessed . Why did it take me so long to learn of this Brilliant Revolutionary Man ?!?
There was one when he insulted religious leaders taking advantage of their members..that was my favourite 🤗
One of the greatest Musician ever lived. And had the pleasure of seeing Him live.
Long Live Afro Beat.
My Ghanaian dad loved different types of music he would sit me down with my siblings every Saturday listening to fela kuti rest in power a talented no nonsense african king❤
My boyfriend from Ghana showed me this giant❤
About 40yrs later Zombies did their worst on innocent youths protesting for their future at Lekki toll gate 20/10/2020. The generations of those behind the senseless massacre will not know peace Amen.
43yrs later
Will never be gotten. Shame on the zoo army. Truly zombies they are. Fela was always right.
First time I heard this song was in 1977...The radio station I worked at got this album and put it in the trash...Was the best day of my life...I had found the king of Africa...FELA🔥🔥🔥
That's crazy. Why would they do that
Depending on where he lived the song was banned in both Nigeria and Ghana.
R.I.P Tony Allen, truly one of the most original drummers of all time
Such a solid and funky drumbeat , we've just lost a true maestro rip Tony .
Fuck, I was just about to comment praising the drums
No Doubt, R.I.P 👍🏾👊🏾✌🏾🇳🇬🇺🇸
wow i remember the first time i visited fela shrine
Greatest of all time. GOAT.
Beautiful mix of energy, anger, groove and artistry.... Fela is legend
Sharp, crisp horns and message. I've been listening to this song since I was about eight, now I'm 49. Great stuff.
Any Zombie Fan's in 2019?
Music to my Soul 💆🏻♂️
sajidh amin as an Afrikan American, he changed my way of looking at poetry, life, and music in general. He is the voice that raises me from my straw hut in the early throes of morning dusk...just saying
of course , never forget, Fela Mum was defenestred by police, for this song..
this is what music can be!!!!
Yep. We are here my broda.
🙋
Fela knows full well that he's endangering his own life by writing these lyrics, but he just goes out of his way to stick his middle finger in front of the Nigerian soldiers and government anyway. If Fela isn't a badass I don't know what he is.
Nicely said (y)
Tommy Hass
Considering the Nigerian government burned down his recording studio (and tapes), killed half his staff members and his grandmother and then drove him out from the country, why shouldn't he?
Man do some research
military coup
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_coups_in_Nigeria#The_July_1966_coup
regime under:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakubu_Gowon
nigeria civil war:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War
who's using violence?
just kill people for an insult, sounds like the Saudis & Taliban why don't you move there!
i am nigerian and fuck the government and fuck all miltary personal bunch of zombie they had no right of kicking him out of his country
Fela Kuti, the godfather of Afrobeat
NO BRAINS NO JOB NO SENSE. This is America 2020. We miss you Fela
that's right
you are USA not america, problem number one of this worldwide stupid society: ingnorance.
Wooooorrrd
@@mrkrudedorf6355 United States of AMERICA
@IntrepidFinch Yes, the Americas are continents. The United States of 'America' was the first independent nation in the New World (the Americas). That's why the nickname "Americans" stuck for the people of the United States of America. Ask Europeans... They call us Americans. I know South Americans are all butthurt about it, but we were also the first and only country in the Americas with "America" in our name.
Thanks to the Afrobeat historian (Chris May), the write up accompanying this song here sure sheds light on what happened. RIP Anikulapo. Baba '70. Me too say "yeah yeah!"
12 minutes of pure musical genius and a fat middle finger to the military dictatorship in Nigeria rolled into one truly magnificent masterpiece of a composition
He was also against LGBT ideologie which is crushing our societies and our future...
Fela was like a teacher of wisdom teaching the youth about the future politics and characteristic of governmental attitude towards people of Nigeria, look and learning careful into melody of the music of fela kuti, also check mate our current society of today. What is really the difference in our leadership legacy of this century and now fela kuti has gone beyond our hearen, who will free this great country of corruption now, obasanjo has failed, buhari has failed who is Next
Fela was a man of unbelievable courage.
Despite the incredible violence of the Nigerian Army against him and his followers,
he continued to goad the authorities with his brilliant music.
Even when he was offered vast sums of money by other record companies, he turned
them down. He was a true visionary who never sold out to anybody.
the added snippets of context is a really neat thing, thank you!
Gracias Fela por esta obra maestra. Saludos desde la República Dominicana 🇩🇴
Just watched “Get on Up”, the biopic of James Brown. Made me think of Fela talking about visiting the US, and hearing James Brown for the first time. His idea of creating a fusion of African rhythms and Funk was brilliant!
We'll never forget the ransacking of Kalakuta by zombies.
Those horns though, brilliant , captivating and intense all wrapped in one amazing track, iam still listening in 2050,
That first bridge, when they respond to Kuti's lead riffs with machine gun stacatto, is a brilliant piece of composition.
Thx GTA4 for showing me this masterpiece! Afrobeat is awesome!
2024 AND JAMMING.. 🕊️
The genre of music that should be promoted
Rest in peace great pioneer
FELA KUTI ❤❤❤
no one can like him,his sons tried the dedication behind the creation it's out this world.
This man just destroyed the army with no weapon, i would have retired if i was a soldier back then😂
FELA !! Too nice Beyonce had to pay homage
With the current "Soro Soke" protests going on in Nigeria, this song couldn't be more relevant... And I feel renewed by the song.
I totally agree with you
This song is more important now than ever
Every where ? Music is the Truth
You are very beautiful
You gotta have had balls the size of a blue whale to speak of the military this way at the time he did. Much respect for this man.
Maybe Music's greatest power is speaking truth to power
Amen to *that!* That's why people say, "It's not the size of the man in the fight, but the size of the fight in the man".
Yeah HE HAD BALLS MAN!!! Bold man...very bold.....So glad i grew up watching him and being around him....great legend!
Like David Icke said, when you open your heart, you have no fear ...and when you have no fear, you're not afraid to speak the truth
Given that Fela Kuti was deeply inspired by James Brown's success as a black man in America, yet few speak about the hate and prejudice that he harboured against homosexuality and certain white folks. Pathetic euro-centric institutions appointed Fela Kuti as an "ambassador of human rights". Kuti, a classic megalomaniac towards the end of his life, the erstwhile 'afro-cult' struck down by AIDS, he started calling his music “African classical music” - and is quoted in a new film saying "you wouldn’t expect composers like Mozart or Beethoven to write three-minute numbers, so why should I?" What's worse certain popular liberal musicians (Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel etc) remained 'mute' about Fela having multiple wives and spurting hatred for LGBTQ folks.
I wish I was a man when Fela was alive. I would have joined his band.
Admin, should have written a short story explaining the reasons for the song, and the government reaction after Fela released this song. It's good younger generation understood what Fela did to make Nigeria and Africa great. Thanks.
Respect to Fela Kuti.Greetings from Vienna Austria
This song is so cool! I was led by a mention of Fela from a member of the old band The Talking Heads during an interview on the channel Professor of Rock, and I'm very happy for this! What wonderful music!
as a young, black- nigerian musician, this is so inspiring.
Now Fela is got a fan from Mexico 🇲🇽!!!!!!
Hola, conoces Nusrat fateh Ali Kahn?
Si te gusta Fela tambien El te va a gustar aun sea musica completamente diferente
Saludos Desde Alemania
This song was written as a protest on what was happening in Nigeria back then. Of course, you can imagine that Fela's actions, alongside with the song itself, didn't make the government quite happy.
All this ended up in the government attacking his family. His mother was thrown from her balcony which costed her life.
All that tragedy didn't stop Fela from performing this song.
Dear Fela! 💥 The 2020 #endsars #endswat #notmypresident #buharimustgo etc protests are on. The youths are fighting to take their country back from the tyrants. We are still here, Fela. You live on! Anikulapo! The man who has death in his pocket. You live on!
He saw it all, legendary
2023. A whole lot more has happened! We are still here! NIGERIA, WHEN??
This was a legend who was very brave!
Rest.In.Power Fela 💪🏽
This is what we call music! It reminds me of my dad.
My condolences to your father sir. He clearly must have had a great taste in music :)
If your dad was a officer, Fela is not hailing them he is insulting and dissing them ni
from a corner of my colombian caribbean caribbean coast we listened to these songs in the pickups of our cities with feeling and joy to our african ancestors years that will not return beautiful 70s of our childhood
Fela Kuti was a revolutionary and used his talent and art to actually make an impact. So fucking important. He was a King! "Music is a spiritual thing. Don't mess play with music" -Fela Kuti.
I'm in my 30s and remember my parents always listening to this song. Still gives me chills till this day. Brought back memories hearing it on Black lightning.
🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿 same here 👌🏿
🤔
Ditto❤❤
God you're blessed to have cool parents with soul. MY parents rarely listened to music (and most of that was easy listening type stuff), but at least I had an older brother turned me on to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Alice Cooper.
But most of the music I loved as a boy growing up in the '60s in white bread surburbia came from the TV... West Side Story, Elvis Comeback special, Jonny Quest theme, ad jingles. But I digress.
Fela and Africa 70 are really kicking some serious butt on this record; the previous listen, "Open and Close" (1971), however, was a bit too tame for my tastes.
The fact that THIS record stimulated the State Goon Squad ("unknown soldiers," ha ha) to chuck Fela's mom out a second story window among many other heinous crimes of violence makes me consider: was it worth it? Nigeria hasn't seemed to have changed very much from what I've read in various comment threads, so I don't know.
Song is now featured in Black Lighting, Fela, u have come far🤩🥳🙏🏽✨
I'd love to see the current protesters start yelling "Zombie" at the police while they're marching. The sentiment might be decades old, but it's still as relevant today as when Fela Kuti first sung the lyrics.
you live in a relatively free society not a military dictatorship. one dead black guy =/= authortarian hellscape
Grand Theft Auto IV brought me here! thank you Rockstar for making such a great game! ❤
Fela on the offensive. Taking no prisoners. He drew first blood, gut punching the festering system of tyranny. And the rest is history.
Powerful message,I had o idea, now I love this song and Fela Kuti even more.
Saludos desde México
Classic Fela. The song that defied the Nigerian military . 🔥
Rest in peace Tony Allen, a legend forever.
Fela and Tony Allen were both Yorubas from Yoruba NATION in the present day country called Nigeria
@@mtdgeorge4953 both schooled by E.T Mensah and Guy Warren
@@RapharMedia
Rest Banku clown
As a Ugandan always watch this song , it's a typica of Ugandan security men and women under the dictator
this joint is sooooooooooooo fitting right about now...
thanks for the slideshow very instructiv !
Fela's life is a weapon of the future !
Hello Baligh. I'm glad you enjoyed listening to Zombie and reading the history behind the song.
Also, thank you for subscribing to the official Fela channel, this means a lot to us.
Take Care Baligh "yeah yeah" (y)
Saw Fema in Montreal about 10 yra ago, he played all his dads songs. That night will live long in the memory.
You mean Femi !!
The Goat Of Afrobeats ☝️
Fela Kuti was a very strong man for he managed to stand up to the brutal army with his music! We need more of these type of artists in Africa.
Just discovering Fela Kuti and the world of African music. Wow, i love love love. The horns, the drums, the vocals, it's energetic and punky.
In love.
Fela music to an older generation must have felt western although he was reclaiming a lot of identity that colonialism had displaced. He was still a man of his epoch with a unique view.
BABA is the one Nigerian that unites all Nigerians poor or rich, north or south, Christiaan or Muslim (or traditional). Baba was a complex man, very true, and not without deep fundamental flaws, particularly from a retrospective view, but he was a truth teller that no one can argue. Currently there seems to be a lot of focus on his anti-Nigerian govt stances, probably to sell a narrative more easily to the West, however, FELA saved his most biting critiques for colonial white folks and their destructive agendas of the day (and complicit Africans).
This song is dedicated to all Nigerian soldiers from General to recruit.
Hahahaha u are wicked
😂😂😂😂 wicked ❤️❤️😂
Really?
🤣, 🐐 comment walahi .
Wash your mouth
Proof that music can bring down corrupt government around the world. Thank you Fela Kuti.
WHO' S STILL LISTENING IT IN 2020???
FELA THE BEST.....RIP
2021....sharing it...the whole world has gone corrupt!
2021 from México!!!
My dear friend Matthew Kempster introduced me to Fela Kuti in 1976 - big love Matthew - still listening - still inspired
Brave genius - we could do with him being around right now.
Even Mr Ambience, Brian Eno, dances to this magnificent tune.
Tony Allen also deserving of a lot of credit for his magnificent shaping of Fela's Afrobeat (or African music, as Fela would have preferred) rhythms.
Each time I listen to this song I understand why Fela is unique in everything.
That band is so tight and then five minutes in the chanting vocals kickk in 420 OMG
Man, Fela Kuti has got to be one of the most badass people ever. He wrote music in defiance of Nigeria's corrupt military strongman!
Nathan Seper StrongMEN, actually.
Then was when military was the ruler of the day the man got some gots
Never thought this song would apply to the United States too, but here we are.
This man literally called Margret thatcher, Ronald Reagan and other leaders in united nation animals in human skin on beast of no nation Lol 😂 this man had balls the size of the twin towers
Did you not hear Taps playing at the end? He is directly calling out the USA
always has
And Europe!
That aping of the military bugle at the end of this jam was ridiculously sublime as it was gloriously majestic!
Fela is KING 👑 👊🏾!
RIP Tony Allen..thanks for putting the BEAT in Afrobeat.
Zombies invade the whole planet, from Iceland to South Africa. We need more freedom. Great music, by the way.
As a Kurd from what will hopefully one day become a fully independent Kurdistan, I salute Fela Kuti for this amazing song
I’m so glad I found Fela !!!man!!! I’m stuck I need every album
Great man ...we all saw the zombies 🧟♂️ killing our brothers on the 20/10/2020.
Lo mejor que he escuchado en muchos años. Encontré oro cuando escuché esta canción. Excelente, brutalmente hermosa.