Click on the link below to listen to my radio show of the music and politics of Nigerian music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938-1997). The undisputed father of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti was raised in a middle class family with international socialist connections. His parents expected him to become a doctor, but he decided to pursue music instead, becoming a prolific composer, singer, lyricist, keyboardist, saxophonist, and trumpeter. A trip to the United States in 1969 introduced him to the American civil rights movement, Black Power, free love, and James Brown.

In this one-hour program, I spin four of Fela’s grooviest beats and three lesser-known sides from James Brown, who was a huge influence on Fela’s music.

Thanks to Portland Indymedia Web Radio for hosting this program.

radio.portland.indymedia.org/content/Jayson/Jayson-01-01-2006.pls