The waves in which works by Fela Kuti were re-released, especially in the Anglo-American world, were accompanied by different focal points in reception. In any case, no one can provide an overview of the 80, maybe more than 100 records that the singer, saxophonist and messianic entertainer released during his lifetime. What was Fela and his most famous band Afrika 70 about? About the sharpening of high-life jazz through the funk and soul impetus that Kuti brought back from his US trip in 1969, about the triumph of polyrhythm in pop – a larger-than-life thank you to Tony Allen. Or about Afrobeat as a pan-African protest note to the military regime of Kuti’s home country Nigeria.
For the new edition for the 50th birthday of the Afrobeat classic ROFOROFO FIGHT, the community concept in Fela’s live shows in the legendary “Shrine” in Lagos plays a central role. In the dialogues with his audience known as “feedback loops”, Kuti developed the current themes of his songs, in big band sound with massive brass sections and funky bass riffs he carried them back to the people.
Kuti’s tracks from this period, often 12, 13 or 15 minute session recordings in which the singer only comes on the scene halfway through the season like on “Roforofo Fight”, bring this live character to record. Groove, keyboards and sax first, the entertainer approaches the crowd in the sound and in such moments becomes a street worker and beat teacher: “You dey craze! I no craze! get away Who are you?” Below is a guide to avoiding fist fights. The big band Afrika 70 has long unpacked its musical fists in a dialectic volte. This reissue of ROFOROFO FIGHT includes the two tracks “Shenshema” and “Ariya”, released as singles in 1972, in addition to the original album.
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