My Friend Fela: An intimate look at Fela Kuti

Article by Maureen Kasuku

Wed. 3rd Feb, 2021 at 4:31PM

Considered the father of music genre Afro-beat, Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician and activist who gained notoriety for his eccentric behaviour and unabashed anti-colonial, anti-state rhetoric.
There's a lot to say about Fela and his music and how it continues to influence new age artists across the continent and the African diaspora. Burna Boy is perhaps the most recognized 'incarnate' of Fela. He embodies his style of music and essence. Even Carlos Moore, author of the authorised biography about the musician, This Bitch of a Life, recognizes Burna.
No one knew Fela better than Carlos. We get to see intimate details of Fela's life in the documentary My Friend Fela through his eyes.

My Friend Fela provides a new perspective on the Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, in order to counter the most often portrayed narrative of Fela "as an eccentric African pop idol of the ghetto"
Now showing at Unseen Nairobi, get your tickets from KenyaBuzz.

About The Author

Maureen Kasuku

Maureen is our resident cat lady and Beyoncé stan. She writes about spas, brunch and ballet recitals but has never been to any. Moonlights as a social justice activist in her spare time. She knows things and is obnoxiously opinionated on the internet but not in real life