Speaking of Nigeria, there are those who by the mere mentioning of their name elicit wild responses. Crazy, genius, pioneer: Fela. This year, on World AIDS Day (December 1), The Brooklyn Academy of Music will present Red Hot + RIOT LIVE!, a benefit tribute to the musical spirit of Fela Kuti.
Since he entered the music scene in the late 1950's, Fela Kuti willingly and wantonly did things his way. From combining Jazz and Funk with African rhythms, to singing in a Nigerian-inflected Pidgin English, he was on the cutting edge. His style of music came to be known as Afrobeat, and he became known as an activist. Through his music, he boldly tackled local, national, and global political issues. Criticizing world leaders, breaking down the Middle East conflict, and issuing a wake-up call to the military minded with the album Zombie are but a few of Fela's claims to fame.
Having lost his life to AIDS related complications in 1997, Fela's legacy is carried on by his son, musician Femi Kuti. His untimely death has been a touchstone in AIDS/HIV activism, most notably represented by the Red Hot + Blue music and concert series, which began in 1990.
Originally released in 2002 as a tribute/remix project, Red Hot + Riot featured a veritable who's who of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, soul, and world music. So, this weekend, we expect some of that same spirit. Embodied by artists such as Les Nubians, Yerba Buena, Dead Prez, and Meshell Ndegeocello, we find the lineup particularly appropriate to pay homage to the late musician's legacy.
Activities will wrap up on December 2, with a second concert and multiple screenings of the Jaheed Ashley documentary, Fela! Fresh from Africa.
