Fela Kuti & Egypt 80

One of world music's pioneering superstars, Fela Kuti led a colourful life and had a productive career, in which he invented Afro-beat, the name he himself coined for his high energy dance music. A larger than life maverick character, Kuti fronted various bands as he toured the world and became a political activist, a stance which resulted in him falling foul of the authorities, notably with the hit album Zombie criticising the Nigerian military. His subsequent life and career was marred by violence, but he continued to use his music as a political weapon and in 1979 launched an abortive attempt to become president of Nigeria; when that failed he formed one of his most successful backing bands, Egypt 80, with a spectacular stage show playing blistering rhythms and characteristically confrontational lyrics. The authorities came down heavily on him and Kuti spent 20 months in prison for alleged currency smuggling offences, but was released after a public outcry and an Amnesty International campaign. His music intensified on his release and he continued to tour America and Europe with Egypt 80, playing to enthusiastic audiences. His popularity peaked in 1989 with the fiercely anti-apartheid album Beast Of No Nations, featuring a cover showing pictures of international leaders Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and PW Botha. However, he continued to be dogged by political pressure in a violent environment and his output had virtually dried up by the time he died as a result of an AIDS-related illness in 1997. Egypt 80 were revived, however, by Kuti's youngest son Seun Kutim while Kuti's own status rose as a result of the stage show Fela!

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