# Fela Kuti

> Nigerian musician and activist (1938–1997)

**Wikidata**: [Q313868](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313868)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fela-kuti

## Summary
Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician and activist, active from 1958 to 1997, who is best known for pioneering the Afrobeat music genre. A multi-instrumentalist and bandleader, he served as a prominent figure in the global music scene through his work as a saxophonist, singer-songwriter, and composer. His career was marked by affiliations with major international record labels, including EMI, JVC, and Barclay, as well as his education at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

## Biography
- **Born:** October 15, 1938
- **Nationality:** Nigerian
- **Education:** Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; Abeokuta Grammar School
- **Known for:** Pioneering the Afrobeat music genre; activism; multi-instrumental performance
- **Employer(s):** EMI, JVC, Barclay
- **Field(s):** Music (Jazz, Highlife, Afrobeat); Activism

## Contributions
Fela Kuti is credited with the creation and popularization of Afrobeat, a distinct music genre that emerged around 1970. His musical work spanned multiple styles, including jazz and highlife, and he performed various roles within the industry, including saxophonist, bandleader, conductor, singer, and composer. Throughout his career, he released music under several significant record labels, notably EMI (a major British label), JVC (a Japanese electronics corporation), and Barclay (a French record label). His professional work period extended from 1958 until his death in 1997.

## FAQs
**What music genre did Fela Kuti create?**
Fela Kuti is known for pioneering Afrobeat, a music genre that originated in 1970, while his work also encompassed jazz and highlife styles.

**Where did Fela Kuti receive his education?**
He attended Abeokuta Grammar School in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, and later studied at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England.

**Which record labels was Fela Kuti associated with?**
Kuti was affiliated with prominent international labels including EMI (Electric and Musical Industries), JVC (Victor Company of Japan), and Barclay.

**What were Fela Kuti's primary professional roles?**
He worked as a musician, activist, saxophonist, bandleader, singer-songwriter, composer, and conductor throughout his career.

**When was Fela Kuti active?**
His work period spanned from 1958 to 1997, coinciding with his life from October 15, 1938, to August 2, 1997.

## Why They Matter
Fela Kuti holds a significant place in music history as the architect of Afrobeat, a genre that blends jazz, highlife, and other influences to create a unique sound. His association with major industry entities like EMI, which was one of the "big four" record companies, and JVC, a pioneer in electronics, underscores the global reach and commercial viability of his work. As an activist, his career intersected with social and political movements, utilizing music as a vehicle for change. His legacy is preserved through extensive documentation and recognition in knowledge systems worldwide, reflecting his enduring influence on both the music industry and cultural activism.

## Notable For
- Pioneering the Afrobeat music genre (inception circa 1970).
- Maintaining a career spanning four decades (1958–1997).
- Performing as a multi-instrumentalist, specifically as a saxophonist, bandleader, and conductor.
- Releasing music through EMI, a defunct British major label and member of the "big four."
- Affiliation with JVC, the Japanese corporation known for developing the VHS standard.
- Education at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.
- Using aliases such as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Abami Eda, and Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti.
- Being a citizen of Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa and a major regional power.

## Body

### Identity and Professional Roles
Fela Kuti, also known by the aliases Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti, Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, and Abami Eda, was a Nigerian human recognized primarily as a musician and activist. His professional life was defined by a diverse set of occupations within the music industry. He was a saxophonist, a musician who plays the saxophone, and a bandleader, responsible for leading groups of musicians. Additionally, he functioned as a singer-songwriter, composing and singing his own songs, and as a conductor, directing musical groups during performances. His broader roles included those of a singer, a composer (an author of music in any form), and an activist—a person working to promote or impede social, political, economic, or environmental change.

### Musical Genres and Style
Kuti's musical contributions are categorized under several specific genres. He is closely associated with jazz, a musical style and genre with an inception date recorded as 1917. His work also encompasses highlife, a musical genre originating in Ghana with an inception around 1965. Most notably, Kuti is credited with the development of Afrobeat, a distinct music genre that emerged around 1970. This genre represents a fusion of musical styles that Kuti utilized to establish his unique artistic identity.

### Education and Early Life
Fela Kuti's educational background includes attendance at two notable institutions. He was educated at Abeokuta Grammar School, a public school located in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, which was founded in 1908. He also attended the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, a music and dance conservatoire based in London, England. This conservatoire, established in 1872, provided Kuti with formal training in the United Kingdom, a nation with a historic connection to Nigeria through colonial and diplomatic relations.

### Career and Record Label Affiliations
Throughout his work period from 1958 to 1997, Fela Kuti was affiliated with several significant organizations in the music recording industry. He had professional relationships with EMI (Electric and Musical Industries), a defunct British music recording and publishing company. EMI was a major label, historically one of the "big four" record companies, which operated from 1931 until its dissolution in 2012. Kuti was also connected to JVC (Victor Company of Japan), a Japanese international electronics corporation founded in 1927. JVC is renowned for its role in the electronics industry and for developing the VHS video recording standard. Furthermore, Kuti was associated with Barclay, a French record label that began operations in 1954.

### National and Cultural Context
As a citizen of Nigeria, Kuti's work was situated within the context of West Africa's most populous nation. Nigeria is a sovereign state and federal republic with a population exceeding 211 million people. The country operates under a presidential system with its capital in Abuja and possesses a diverse demographic structure, including major ethnic groups such as the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. The official language is English, and the nation is a member of international bodies like the United Nations and OPEC. Kuti's career unfolded against the backdrop of Nigeria's post-independence history (1963) and its complex cultural landscape.

### Related Entities and Network
Kuti's professional network intersected with various other artists and entities. He is listed as having influenced or being connected to other musicians, including Orlando Julius, a Nigerian musician. His career also shared timelines and industry contexts with groups like the Baha Men, a Bahamian musical group known as a junkanoo band. These connections place Kuti within a broader ecosystem of African and international music collaboration.

### Legacy and Documentation
Fela Kuti's life and work are documented extensively across global knowledge systems. He maintains a significant digital presence with numerous identifiers, including library authority numbers and Wikidata entries. His official website is recognized as http://www.felaproject.net. The breadth of his recorded work, spanning from the late 1950s to the mid-1990s, continues to be referenced in academic and cultural databases, cementing his status as a pivotal figure in 20th-century music.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians
3. Dictionary of African Biography
4. [Source](https://trackloaded.com/tag/fela-kuti/)
5. [Source](http://www.pulse.ng/gist/fela-kuti-afrobeat-legends-native-white-chalk-makes-a-return-id5588170.html)
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. MusicBrainz
8. BnF authorities
9. Lingua Libre
10. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
11. SNAC
12. Internet Broadway Database
13. Find a Grave
14. filmportal.de
15. Discogs
16. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. Virtual International Authority File
19. [Source](https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/music/fela-kuti-mentor-sandra-izsadore-still-trying-to-change-the-world-through-song)
20. CONOR.SI
21. [Source](http://venturesafrica.com/how-fela-anikulapo-kutis-activism-transcended-music/)
22. BBC Things
23. [Source](https://trackloaded.com/tag/fela-kuti/#about)
24. The Guardian
25. Quora
26. Carnegie Hall linked open data
27. The Movie Database
28. LIBRIS. 2012