Celebrity Of The Week: Olufemi “Femi Kuti” Anikulapo -Kuti | @Femiakuti

Hi #MBzers!

*clears throat* you are welcome again to another segment of CELEBRITY OF THE WEEK, exclusively brought to you by Chibuzo Nwadike.

Even with his success story that started right with his father, he hasn’t quite had an idyllic period. And having been nominated at the Grammys this year, which makes it his 4th nomination, but not getting any award (which many believe may be from his village); we are so sure that he is making a strong stratagem for a possible “next time”. And you know what they say about failure being fully accomplished by falling and not getting back up… #MikellzBluez decides to celebrate a man that will always get back up stronger from every fall by making him our “Celebrity of the Week”! He is no other person but The Prince of Kalakuta, Olufela Olufemi “Femi Kuti” Anikulapo -Kuti.

HIS LIFE

Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo -Kuti [born 16 June, 1962], popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician and the eldest son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. He actually quit school in 1978 to play saxophone in his father’s band ‘Egypt 80’. Femi was born in London to Fela and Remi Kuti and grew up in the former Nigerian capital, Lagos. His mother soon left his father, taking Femi to live with her. In 1977, however, Femi chose to move in with his father. Femi eventually became a member of his father’s band.

HIS CAREER

In 1986, while Fela enjoyed huge popularity which attracted government disapproval, Femi Kuti took up the pioneer’s afrobeat mantle and formed his own group: POSITIVE FORCE with Dele Sosimi (Gbedu Resurrection), a former key-board player for Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Over ten years, he gradually freed himself from his father’s musical influence, and finally achieved full recognition in his own right in 1994 when he signed with the legendary Motown Label.

Like his father, Femi has shown a strong commitment to social and political causes throughout his career. His international career began in 1988 when he was invited by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and Christian Mousset to perform at the Festival d'Angoulême (France), the New Morning Club in Paris and the Moers Festival in Germany.

1997 was a tragic year for him, despite his first professional breakthrough in which he achieved international recognition; it was also the year in which Femi Kuti suffered the loss of his father, and within only months, the death of his sister, Sola. Tragedies that would inspire one of the most moving songs from the inheritor of “The Tiger: ’97”.

After two years, in 1999, Femi Kuti brought out a new album on a new label titled “Shoki-Shoki” driven by a relatively traditional afrobeat, it received public recognition as well as the critical acclaim of his early works.

In 2001, Femi collaborated on his album “Fight to Win” with a number of US musicians, including Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright.

In 2002, Femi’s mother, who had played an influential role in Femi’s life, died at the age of 60. Femi’s son currently appears as part of his act, playing alto saxophone.

Also in 2002, Femi contributed a remake of his father’s classic song, “Water No Get Enemy”, to Red Hot & Riot, a compilation CD in tribute to Fela Kuti that was released by the Red Hot Organization and MCA. His track was created in collaboration with hip hop and R&B artists, D'Angelo, Macy Gray, The Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, and Roy Hargrove. And all proceeds from the CD were donated to charities dedicated to raising AIDS awareness or fighting the disease.

Femi Kuti’s voice is featured in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV, where he is the host of radio station IF 99 (International Funk 99, described as “playing a great selection of classics from West Africa, the US and elsewhere”).

In similar fashion as his father, there have been complaints of Kuti’s criticism of his homeland Nigeria, specifically in the song “Sorry Sorry”, “What Will Tomorrow Bring” and “97”.

Femi has been nominated for a Grammy award four times in the world music category in 2003, 2010, 2012 and 2013 but has never won.

NOW AND THEN

Years back, he started as a saxophonist for his father (Fela Anikulapo Kuti), now he is here getting nominations at the Grammys. Femi is undoubtedly one of the strongest and oldest performing acts… He is indeed the Prince of Afrobeat.

AWARDS and NOMINATIONS

Nominations

Grammy Awards: Best World Music Category (2003, 2010, 2012 and 2013)

BESTS OF FEMI KUTI

Choosing by his most popular work(s); songs and videos that have won him most awards and nominations, we bring you Femi Kuti’s Bests….

Songs

97 and What Will Tomorrow Bring

Album

SHOKI SHOKI

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT FEMI KUTI

Kuti’s album “Fight to Win” featured collaborations with Mos Def.

He raised a son who has played alto saxophone with him for performances.

Femi is a British citizen by birth.

He is a member of Popular British (#3292), Popular Saxophonist (#125), Popular Gemini (#2381)

Femi is the only Nigerian to have been nominated for Grammy 4 times.

Femi likes video games more than food.

Chibuzo Nwadike | @Iam_SirHugoboss [twitter]

[sources: wikipedia, femiakuti.com]

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