Afrobeat’s Activist Daddy

It’s time to Felabrate! Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti - the father of Afrobeat - was born on this day in 1938. Every year, Nigerians hold Felabration - a festival launched by his eldest daughter Yeni, celebrating his incredible life, legacy and music.

The genre he created has now gone global, but while he was alive, he faced repression from Nigeria’s military leaders - whom he taunted with songs such as 1977’s Zombie.

He spoke up for human rights in Nigeria, calling out corruption and also colonialism, which he identified as the root cause of Africa’s socio-economic and political problems.

Here’s a quick look back at the man and his music. Let us know which of his tunes you like most in the comments!