Fela Kuti - Music Is the Weapon [DVD]

Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti can be a perplexing figure. While his passion, activism, and musicianship are inspiring, his chauvinism, narcissism, and anarchism may not sit well with the modern western observer. However, the 1982 documentary Music is the Weapon by Stephane Tchal-Gadjieff sets the stage for a greater understanding of the time and place that Fela found himself, thereby giving the outside observer a better appreciation of the space in which the man created his political and musical identity. The film's aim is not biographic. Although the first ten of its fifty minutes is spent on discussing Fela's beginnings as the child of a middle-class Yoruba family as well as his travels to England and the US, his life is described within the context of the relevant histories of those places. As much, if not more, is said about Martin Luther King, the assassination of Kennedy, and the Biafra war than is said about specific events in Fela's life. Approaching his life story from this standpoint serves to outline the influences on his emerging political philosophy quickly and effectively, but tends to downplay his musical growth and influences. Place is described from the global down to the local. Nigeria is described in the context of Africa, and the city of Lagos is described in the context of Nigeria. In conjunction with the previous history of the Biafra war, the images and descriptions of Lagos are particularly effective in conveying the political climate of the city. The brutality and poverty of this city is palpable, especially with Fela's music and lyrics as the backdrop. Finally the sphere tightens onto The Shrine, his nightclub, and we are treated to fantastic footage of him playing and preaching here to a diverse cross-section of the Nigerian public. After the time and place are set, we follow Fela home to Kalukuta, which is a nearby suburb that he has transformed into what could only be called a temporary autonomous zone. About 100 people lived there: his 15 wives, his musicians, and his bodyguards. Kalukuta was a self-proclaimed republic, and there he was viewed as a tribal chief. Here, we begin to look the metaphors that make up his politics and, consequently, his music. It must be understood that Fela longed for a return to tribal Africa. He viewed both Christianity and Islam as non-African, so his nightclub was a Shrine not just in name, but in function. Monogamous marriage was an affectation of the West, so he married 27 women (apparently 12 left him before the time of filming). He viewed musicianship as a gift from the Gods, to be used for the good of mankind. People who misuse it will "die young". Fela attributed his youthful appearance and energy to this philosophy. Once we get an idea of Fela's space, we take a step back and see his place in the national level. He had serious interest in running for Nigerian presidency, but was opposed by the incumbent system. The Nigerian government's reaction to this resulted in several attempts to discourage and discredit him, not the least of which was the invasion of Kalukuta by Nigerian police on two occasions. The first resulted in the death of his mother. The second (which occurred at the time of filming), resulted in imprisonment and torture. To describe Fela as a musician without taking into consideration his political philosophy is to sell him short. Fela viewed music as a gift to be used for the good of mankind. With political injustice and human suffering around him, he sharpened the blade on his music and used it, like the title states, as a weapon to at least alleviate, if not ameliorate the means of that suffering. When seen outside of that context, one's initial reactions to Fela's philosophy may be one of surprise. Within it, however, one reaction will most likely be one of admiration.

It presents Fela's career and life as a moving force against oppression with an old but effective battle weapon: music. A good documentary for a base understanding of a monumental artist.

Well done!

Great Video on an iconic figure. I'm a huge fan of Fela, and I think the video did him justice.

Seun is Fela's son although it will be hard to fill Fela's shoes , Seun is sure doing a great job

great

BEST FILM EVER AND A REAL EDUCATION ON FIGHTING FOR WHATS RIGHT AND PURSUING UR PASSION!

This film does a great job at capturing the socio-political backround behind Fela's message and movement. If you're expecting lot's of concert footage, more insight into Fela personally, or even a balanced unbiased look at the legend (for example, Nigerians famous and non-famous offering their insight on him), it definitely falls short... the film is more about Fela and his bid for the presidency of Nigeria.- - but what makes it worth the purchase is getting to step inside the Africa Shrine and Kalakuta Republic and see Fela in action on his home turf, to get to hear him expressing his beliefs candidly - - as well as the political realities behind the message in his music.Containing both the French and American version, I like the French version better, as it focuses more on Fela and his music and message, whereas the American version seems to go as far as possible in capturing the poverty and squalor of Lagos. - - Incidentally, if you remember the BLUES-mobile from the BLUES BROTHERS, wait until you see Fela's own VW version...

I found this video and music fascinating.

Very good and informative! Proper Afrobeat tunes...

A must see for any Fela Kuti fan. A great insight in this legends personal, political and musical life. I watched it last night as part of a music festival, now im going to buy it.

ce film est dédié à Fela Anikulapo Kuti, le créateur de l'afrobeat, ce groove irrésistible qui emporte tout sur son passage, il a enregistré plus de 60 albums, plus ou moins célèbres, et a lutté tout au long de sa carrière contre la corruption au Nigéria. Il a fait plusieurs séjours en prison où il a été torturé (il conserve plein de marques sur son corps entier qu'il montre dans le reportage, ce qu'il n'a pas de mal à faire puisqu'on le voit souvent torse nu, quand ce n'est pas tout simplement en slip!). Malgré cela et toutes les fausses allégations à son encontre (telles qu'un vol à mains armées), il n'a jamais cessé de défendre ses compatriotes, dans la plupart dans un dénuement complet (sans eau, nourriture et électricité). Ce reportage tourné à Lagos en 1982 nous montre l'univers de Fela, la "République de Kalakuta", son night club, le "Africa Shrine", ses femmes, ses enfants, ses amis, et il donne à la caméra sa vision de la politique, du panafricanisme incarné par le Ghanéen Kwame Nkrumah, de la musique, de la religion, et des femmes (un homme n'est pas fait pour avoir une seule femme!). Au sortir d'un séjour en prison à l'issue duquel il se montre encore plus déterminé à lutter contre le système politique pourri sévissant dans le pays d'Afrique le plus peuplé, on ne peut qu'être admiratif devant une telle force de caractère et une telle personnalité qui a su concilier musique et politique au point de faire peur au gouvernement en place. Même si les images ne sont pas de la meilleure qualité, ce DVD est à conseiller à toute personne désirant connaître ce personnage haut en couleurs, mort du sida en 1997 à l'âge de 58 ans.

excellent highly recommended