Rent Fela Kuti: Fela in Concert (1981)
3.5 of 5 from 46 ratings
0h 57min
- General info
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- Synopsis:
This extraordinary program features the most famous Nigerian musician and composer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Fela was the most celebrated black African musician of his time and a revolutionary, a cultural and political symbol oftentimes ambiguous to the Western mind. The African rhythms of his music are profoundly influenced by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Mile Davis as well as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear, forming a new musical style called "Afro-Pop", somewhat akin to "Jazz-Rock", but with deep African roots. A charismatic performer, Fela projects the imperial trappings of power. His music is punctuated by exotic and highly suggestive tribal dances and rituals performed on stage by 15 of his 27 wives. Was he a musician? A politician? A religious chief? An agitator? Was he a Miles Davis-James Brown-Malcolm X who decided to marry his 27 dancers and singers, and his first wife, all the same day, in a great tropical ceremony? In any case, he was one of the best loved men in Africa. In Nigeria (over 80 million population) Fela claimed that he was better known than the President. It was probably true.
Fela, Black President
He led a political party in Lagos, the "Movement of the People", and he was its candidate in the Nigerian Presidential elections of 1983. Panafricanist, libertarian, Fela represented the uprising of Black Africa, politically and musically. This historic show was recorded in Paris on June 30, 1981 during an exclusive "all night" live concert. This exceptional event was captures on tape by multiple cameras and recorded in 24-track stereo sound, newly digitized and enhances in this video presentation.- Actors:
- Fela Anikulapo Kuti
- Directors:
- Claude Lambert
- Writers:
- Fela Anikulapo Kuti
- Studio:
- View Video
- Genres:
- Documentary, Music & Musicals, Performing Arts, Special Interest
