One of the tracks created specifically for the Red Hot + Riot album is a remake by Bugz in the Attic and Wunmi of the 1977 Fela smash hit, Zombie.

In 1976, the planning of the Second World Black Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC77) was underway and Fela was invited to part of the Organizing Committee.
He soon realized that many of the involved were interested only in lining their own pockets & pulled out, staging a protest performance at The Shrine running concurrently with FESTAC77. It was here that Zombie made its public debut.

Reportedly a huge success, these concerts were jam packed every night, drawing the likes of Stevie Wonder, Gilberto Gil, Bootsie Collins and all the international artists/musicians slated to attend FESTAC77 who instead ended up at The Shrine.

It’s also worth noting that after the FESTAC77 concert and all the foreign visitors had left town, military dictator Olusegun Obasanjo (apparently seeing Fela’s withdrawal from FESTAC77 as a significant threat) swooped down on The Shrine with over 1000 soldiers, burning it to the ground, raping & brutaling his wives and throwing his aged mother out of the 2nd floor window (who later died from her injuries).

Fast forward 25 years…

Wunmi & the London music collective Bugz in the Attic had quite a reputation and years of history to live up to on this remake… and indeed they gave it a solid effort.

Replacing Fela’s venom-laden voice is Wunmi’s less-edgy singing, chants and calls backed by a stripped down Afrobeat production mixed with Brokenbeat drumming.
Some will notice that this effort doesn’t leave you with the same effect of the original Zombie and that’s understandable as it serves an entirely different purpose. This is a dancefloor track, bringing Fela’s music to a wider audience whereas the original Zombie was straight-up protest material.

Bugz in the Attic featuring Wunmi - Zombie

(media offline)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 10th, 2005 at 2:39 pm and is filed under afrobeat. You can skip to the end and leave a response.