Fela! on broadway

Hey guys! Remember when I discussed Fela! the Broadway musical based on Fela Kuti's life. Well, since I didn't have much time I couldn't really talk about it as much as I wanted. Here is some information and a couple of videos about Fela!

Extra:
Documentary about The King of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti

Peace and Harmony,
Iphy

Highlife Music

Highlife is a music genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. It is very popular in Liberia and all of English-speaking West Africa, although little has been produced in other countries due to economic challenges brought on by war and instability.

Highlife is characterized by jazzy horns and multiple guitars which lead the band. Recently it has acquired an uptempo, synth-driven sound. 

Check out some old school classics from back in the day 

Peace and Harmony,

Iphy

ELDER'S CORNER - SIJI AWOYINKA'S MUSICAL DOCUMENTARY PROJECT

Siji Awoyinka starts a documentary project called Elder's Corner to give us a glimpse of Nigeria's music legends and their unique afro-beat music. Enjoy!



Peace and Harmony,
Iphy.

The Ghanaian Dance Craze Known as the Azonto

So, there's this new dance craze taking over West Africa called the Azonto (originally from Ghana)
I guess we can call it the West African dougie because everybody and their mama is trying to learn/teach this dance.

watch them teach you (and random people on the streets of Central London..lol) the Azonto dance below





*Hits the Azonto*

Peace and Harmony,
Iphy

The Youngest Son of the Afrobeat King

Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti is a Nigerian musician and the youngest son of Afrobeat king and  pioneer Fela Kuti. Seun (as he is commonly called) leads his father's former band Egypt 80.

After Fela’s death of AIDS in 1997 Seun, then only 14 years old, became the lead singer of Egypt 80. He honed his musical skills for several years. Those skills were showcased to the world with his 2008 debut album, Many Things, produced by Martin Meissonnier, who had already produced two albums for his father.

About three-fourths of the current Egypt 80 line-up consists of musicians that not only played with Fela Kuti, but often were arrested and harassed alongside Fela. Live sets consist of both new material and originals from Seun’s father. 

Seun is also a political and human rights activist like his late father. He participated actively in the Occupy Nigeria protests against the fuel subsidy removal policy of President Goodluck Jonathan in his native Nigeria, in January 2012.

Seun is wonderful performer, I watched him perform back in Nigeria in 2008, and I saw him perform for the second time at the SXSW Africa Showcase. It was very exciting to watch Seun perform with original members of hi late father's band. It was like I was hearing Fela live; a very spectacular experience.

Totally unrelated, but I hear Seun is a male diva 

Diva: A woman who is usually perceived as bitch or self-absorbed, which in some cases they are. A diva is a woman who has self-confidence, self-respect, and hella swagger.

..but c'mon he's earned the right to act like one ...no? If it's his way or the highway...well you better take his way! hahaha

Heck! If I were Fela's child, best believe I'll be a diva too. 

Peace and Harmony,

Iphy.

Seun Kuti: Afrobeat Forever

CNN - Nigeria Music Industry (psquare)

One of my favorite Nigerian and African musical acts is the dynamic duo known as P-square.
Love these dudes.

Check out a CNN story on the Nigerian music industry and P-square below.

I admire that they have broke n the barriers that Nigerian artists could not break easily in the past- that is , gaining an international audience.

Check P-square out!




Might I add that they are from my home state? Anambra state... Google us baby! lol

Peace and harmony,
Iphy