FELA KUTI : THE RADICAL MUSIC & FASHION ICON
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Fela Anikulapo Kuti became legendary for his activism & pioneering the afrobeats movement. But Fela's revolutionary powers was also expressed with his fashion.
BACKGROUND
Fela was born in the South-western city of Abeokuta, Nigeria. His parents Reverend Israel and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti were promitent citizens in British-colonised Nigeria.
In 1958, Fela was sent to London to study medicine but instead he opted to study music at the Trinity College of Music, the saxophone was his preferred instrument.
He would return to Nigeria in 1963, after its independence. He became an activist. Music was his leathal weapon as he called out successive military leaders & aristocrats, attacking their misconducts with his lyrics.
FASHION ICON
Fela's fashion choices can be described as rebellious to western standards. He opted to promote African culture & ideals. Wearing what was considered, non-Western clothes was a matter of pride and authenticity.
At this point, Fela had dropped the hyphenated surname "Ransome" because it was a slave name.
In his song "Gentleman" Fela breaks down his aversion to western standards.
“Africa hot, I like am so. I know what to wear, but my friends don't know. Him put him socks, him put him shoe. Him put him pant, him put him singlet. Him put him trouser, him put him shirt. Him put him tie, him put him coat. Him come cover all with him hat. Him be gentleman. Him go sweat all over, him go faint right down. Him go smell like shit Him go piss for body, him no go know. Me I no be gentleman like that."
He often performed on stage shirtless with large beads adorning his neck, or in ankara jumpsuits and matching top and bottoms, or simply in his underwear.
His fashion sense, extended to his dancers & back-up singers. The stylistic prowess of the “Fela Kuti Queens"— With their beaded braids, head wraps, and elaborate ceremonial face paint.
For Fela, achieving full liberation meant rejecting the customs and rules of the "white men" who had been his colonial master—all the way down to his clothing.
LEGACY
He died in 1997, aged 59years. Dying from complications arising from HIV/AIDs just four months after he left prison. His burial was attended by over a million people who had idolised him in life.
Today, his underwear, as well as other items from his wardrobe, are forever immortalized with a display at the Kalakuta Republic Museum in Lagos.
Afrobeats, the musical genre he pioneered has become a global movement.
His music, ideas, fashion influence unified a nation, transcending class or religion or ethnicity.
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| Felabration |
Fela’s death was devastating but in dying, he seemed to be immortalised from legend into myth. Books have been written about him, documentaries shot and a Broadway show has travelled the world presenting Fela's ingenious.
