While we sit around dithering, moaning, and outraged in the face of a corrupt and insane political class, and a Democratic leadership that betrays us at every turn, perhaps some spirit might be drawn from the example of Nigeria's "Uncompromising Sacred Monster."
Fela Anikulapo Kuti died from AIDS in 1997, but his music is still as fantastic, his sympathy for the poor still as moving, and his fierce and relentless speaking of truth to corrupted power still as necessary as it was during his life.
The show is, besides the incredible music and dancing, a dazzling portrait of the man's life and contributions. I can't say enough about the quality of the cast, the band, the direction, the story. For your own sake, please go see it.
Here's Fela's "Zombie" (long music intro, as always, then the meat, though only half the song is here)
"Zombie," is a song about the murdering, thieving soldiers of Nigeria's military bosses. What the show taught me was that "Zombie" became the phrase Nigerians would use later, whenever they had dealings with troops and Generals in the market, on the streets, passing by.
"Zombie no tinkle 'less you tell him go tinkle." A natural man, the rigidity and personal timidity of the well-trained soldier, offended and rankled him.
It also got him arrested, beaten, and tortured. Which happened by some accounts about 200 times over his career. Sometimes crowds of thousands of his fans forced his release.
None of this stopped him from singing about the corruption of Nigeria (and ITT, and Monsanto, and Shell Oil...), and the day came when the army raided his compound, killing his mother and raping the female members of his group.
That didn't stop him either. Here's the song about the government bombing of his home. "Dem leave Sorrow, Tears & Blood, dem regular trademark." (Though he could speak the Queen's English, he preferred to use the patois of Nigeria.)
In any case, if you should be in NYC during the play's run (through Sept 21, except Sept 4), I do hope you treat yourself to a fantastic night of music and political inspiration.
Here's the beginning of the truly astonishing "Army Arrangement" where he details current scandals one after another and then says "Add them together, give me the answer" and the chorus sings "Army Arrangement" (Remind you of any military-industrial complex you know?)
If your condition today make you shake
and you still dey not talk the way you feel
make you open your eyes very well
to hear the truth talk me I dey talk
listen make you dey gree for me
Every day and night you dey hear me talk
One day yourself you go gree with me
to dey act the way as you dey feel
remember if you no act your own
one day of course we must die
You can get more youtubes here.
You can get more takes on the show at the Fela! youtube page
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I realized just now it's very late, so I'm not likely to be around to reply until Saturday afternoon.
Forgive me for that.