Fela Anikulapo Kuti

Have you ever heard of a musician who turned jazz, funk, and African rhythms into a powerful voice against injustice? That’s exactly what Fela Kuti did! Born in 1938 in Nigeria, Fela kicked off the Afrobeat genre in the late 1960s and used it to challenge powerful governments while making people dance.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti lived from 1938 to 1997. His biggest idea was that music could be more than entertainment. He mixed jazzy horns, funky bass lines, and West African drumbeats to invent Afrobeat—a new sound so electric it got people moving and thinking at the same time.

In 1970, Fela formed Africa 70 and declared his home the Kalakuta Republic, a creative hub and safe place to speak out. Hits like “Zombie” and “Sorrow Tears and Blood” became anthems against corruption and unfair leaders.

Even when he was arrested or his home was raided, Fela never quit. He showed the world that songs can be superpowers for change. Today, Afrobeat still fills dance floors and reminds us that music can make a difference—one beat at a time!