Problem
"Music, when used politically, provides a method of peaceful resistance to violent oppression. The violent reactions to political music illustrate how threatening this form of resistance is to the status quo." (Viviane Saheh-Hanna) 374) Fela Kuti is known as an artist who uses his chosen medium of music to bring awareness to the inequities in post-colonial Nigerian society and the injustices perpetrated by the Nigerian military government against its people.
Fela Kuti's music and activism have served as an inspiration to other artists and given a voice to oppressed people all over the world. In 1997, his funeral was attended by one million people. Every time he released a new recording of his music, he risked being arrested or executed by the Nigerian government.
I. Fela Kuti is known to have cultivated a "Pan-African" identity through his music, lyrics, fashion, art, and stage performances. Use examples from the module materials and your own research to define and describe the "Pan-African identity" that Fela Kuti presents. Why might embracing a Pan-African identity have been important to Fela Kuti?
II. The reading "Fela Kuti's Wahala Music" details Fela Kuti's use of language in his songs and in his creative and political life. What are the languages that Fela drew upon and how did he apply them? (In this question you are connecting language with context, audience, and intent.)
III. What are some social issues that Fela Kuti addresses through his music? What perspectives does he communicate?
IV. In the 1982 documentary, Music is the Weapon, Fela Kuti discusses his presidential campaign. Throughout the course, we have looked at ways in which various cultures consider and express values such as goodness and ethics and which qualities are desirable in leaders. Consider whether Fela Kuti might or might not be considered a good candidate for leadership within one or more of the belief systems we've studied.