Music Is the Weapon (W/Dvd)

Fela Kuti | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Wrasse Records
• ASIN: B0002UJND8
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,578 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #64 in Music > World Music > Africa > Nigeria

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Lady

2. Shakara

3. Gentleman [Edit Version][Version]

4. Water No Get Enemy [Edit Version][Version]

5. Zombie

6. Sorrow Tears and Blood

7. No Agreement, Pt. 2

Disc: 2

1. Roforofo Fight

2. Shuffering and Shmiling, Pt. 2

3. Coffin for Head of State, Pt. 2

4. Itt, Pt. 2

5. Army Arrangement, Pt. 2

6. O.D.O.O. [Edit Version][Version]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938-1997) was a Nigerian colossus, a prolific singer-composer who played keyboards, trumpet and saxophone. Like so many men of the people, he was the well-educated son of a middle-class family, although one famous for its revolutionary iconoclasts. He was repeatedly harassed and jailed due to his outspoken political views and a pan-African philosophy that began with Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah and Malcolm X and hit the ground running. After years of experimentation, Fela hit upon what he called Afro-beat, a seductive, explosive groove wherein highlife and Yoruba folklore were fused with American jazz, R&B and funk, then capped by confrontational pigeon lyrics. Performed by a huge troupe of musicians, more than twenty female back-up singers and/or dancers (many of whom were also Fela¹s wives and were literally barefoot and pregnant) and fronted by the face-painted, spliff-puffing bandleader¹s priapic, larger-than-life presence, Fela¹s tunes were often extended epics that never seemed long enough. By the time of his death from an AIDS-related illness, he had recorded more than 70 albums, toured the world and transformed African music for all time. Every opus collected on this double-CD set ideally exemplifies a crucial facet of the phenomenon, although not everyone will agree with the producer¹s choices (or omissions.) The accompanying DVD of the seminal documentary, Music Is The Weapon, is a revelatory must-have; it overflows with fervent live performances, frank interviews and exudes genuine Lagos street cred, circa 1982. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Art + Politics = Power, May 19, 2006

By 

Justin Leg "Just Like A Coke Machine You Know... (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music Is the Weapon (W/Dvd) (Audio CD)

There is nothing bad I can say about Fela, there really isn't. The man was a cultural and political phenomenon inspiring countless amounts of fellow Africans to take a stand. Think in the terms of Bob Marley, but do I dare to say Fela was more important? Uh, yes. (Meanwhile, I just made the entire faux post-hippie movement choke on their bong smoke).

"Music Is The Weapon" prooves to be the perfect title for Fela's 'best of' songs. He fought soley with art and became so powerful at it that he opened and performed religiously at his own night club, using it as a politcal pulpit. After gaining international acclaim, Fela was eventually gunned down after a concert so he could be kept quiet, only to survive and continue his fight. Parallels could be noted about Marley, however, Nigeria had more urgent problems than Jamaica.

Fela was a versatile musican, not only did he sing and write his own compositions, he played keyboards and saxaphone while directing his band and singers. Many people compare him as Africa's James Brown because the music uncontestedly FUNKY. It is a fair agreement. JB is the Godfather of Soul and Fela is the Godfather of Afrobeat, although Fela is much active in his human rights awareness. And smarter, seeing that James Brown endorsed Richard Nixon.

In whole, this collection is a great starting point for getting into this truely one-of-a-kind artist. It acts as a 'greatest hits' despite the two problems I have with this release:

1- It does not highlight the broad range of music and time eras Fela recorded in, but remember, the music selections are by no means poor examples of greatness and originality.

2- Many of the track selections are only parts or edits of the full-length versions, but keep in mind that some of these 'edited' versions are still 8-14 minutes long. If they were not cut, we would be looking at half an hour jams right up there with electric Miles Davis funkiness.

"Music Is The Weapon" also contains a third disc that documents Fela's musical life and political beliefs on DVD while displaying live performances and interviews with the man himself. Fela's mission was to make you aware while making you dance, both in a gracefully artistic manner.

I suggest researching the life of Fela. In turn, the music will make more sense to us living in western society.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for any true music lover., September 15, 2008

By 

Jared Bowring "Jared the Music Lover" (Detroit) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music Is the Weapon (W/Dvd) (Audio CD)

Fela is a genius of his time and most likely any time. This set, that includes a dvd will not only document why, but also give you listening, that will explain why he is one of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century.

One of my best friends turned me on to Fela back when I was too stupid to realize the music. By chance, I heard a Fela song again while working at UofM's radio station and since then I collected all of his works.

This is a quality and complete collection of his best and what makes it the BEST is the dvd.

GET THIS NOW... RIGHT NOW!