Fela Anikulapo Kuti was truly a one-in-a-lifetime individual. His keen sense of Nigeria’s problems and artful translation of that message to song has never ceased to amaze me. Examples of this can be seen throughout his music - from Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense to Government Chicken Boy.

In November 1978 , less than one year after seeing compound razed, his mother brutally killed (by “unknown soilders,”) and lucky to get away with his life, Fela headlined at the Berlin Jazz Festival where he opened with VIP - calling out those in power who use their platform to steal, cheat and “talk nonsense” - individuals whose priorities are so self-serving that they have no concept of, nor care what the common man is going through.

Man he get power, he take am talk nonsense…
Man he get power, he take am cheat person…
Man he get power, he take am steal money…
Him no know hungry people
Him no know jobless people
Him no know homeless people
Him no know suffering people

He be wrong man
na Vagabond In Power!

Ironically today’s Nigeria is being led by the same military hood that killed Fela’s mama 30 years ago, but this time instead of rule by force, it’s rule under the guise of a so-called democracy (abi demonstration of craze?) And 30 years later musicians like Maintain, Lagbaja, Ruggedman, Kola Ogunkola & many more are still quoting Fela’s music because it’s more relevent than ever - Nigeria is dealing with the exact same situations - imagine that!?!

Enjoy V.I.P (live)… includes Fela addressing the Berlin crowd prior the performance.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti - V.I.P.

(media offline)

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 25th, 2005 at 1:28 am and is filed under afrobeat. You can skip to the end and leave a response.