- Safiu Kehinde
Former United States President, Barack Obama, has joined the list of prominent voice in celebrating the legacy of late Nigerian Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Obama, while announcing the release of a new podcast titled “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man”, described him as a musical genius who combined art and political activism in a way that changed global music.
“He is a musical genius from Nigeria who made some music that I really love, combining funk, jazz, and soul into a whole new genre called Afrobeat,
“It’s a beautiful show about a unique figure in musical history who mixed art with activism.” Obama said in the video promoting the podcast.
According to reports, the 12-episode documentary series was produced by Higher Ground, a media company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.
The podcast explores Fela Kuti’s life, from his childhood in Abeokuta, Nigeria, to his rise to fame.
Obama, in the podcast, conducted series of interviews with members of the Kuti family, including Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, and Mádé Kuti, as well as musicians such as Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, and Questlove.
Speaking in the opening episode, titled “To Hell and Back,” Obama reflected on the power of Fela’s music.
“Music like Fela’s is able to not just keep folks moving but also makes them feel alive. Our very best art and very best music touch the soul.” He said.
One of the episodes delved into Fela’s 1978 mass wedding, when he married his 27 dancers and singers popularly known as Kalakuta Queens in a single ceremony.
The podcast also examines key moments in Fela’s life, including his 1969 stay in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to Black liberation politics by activist Sandra Izsadore; his clashes with Nigeria’s military government; and his establishment of the Kalakuta Republic, a commune he declared independent from the Nigerian state.