Fela Kuti is classic, in every sense of the word. Timeless, inimitable and trend-setting, Fela fused funk, soul, 70s R&B, psyche rock with Africa’s own tribal sounds, all at once giving ode to US counterparts and his own countrymen we would learn about from his own ascent as a superstar. I learned about Fela from Beastie Boys producer Mario Caldato in the early 90s, approximately 5 years before he passed in 1997. While, I thought of myself as pretty astute on the sounds of jazz-funk and rare grooves, I felt like I knew very little about either upon hearing the sounds of “highlife” or Lagos funk, which Fela came to represent. Yet, Fela was very different in style and personality to his associates, as can be seen in the few video documentaries depicting him both as a passionate musical genius and as a pathological tyrant to his familial throng. He put on a wild show, often over 20 players on a stage, full of bravado and swagger. He even had a phrase for his outlandish stage productions, Underground Spiritual Game. He once formed a commune, barricaded himself and his family inside and declared independence from Nigeria. His songs were often 20-30 minutes long, where during breakdowns he would riff verbally about his Pan-African political beliefs or whatever came to mind.

This month, to celebrate Fela’s birthday, our friends at Giant Step and Knitting Factory Records are reviving the tradition of Felabrations, which date back to the early 70s when Fela and his band took to the courtyard of the Empire Hotel in Lagos and performed several nights to adoring fans. The courtyard went on to be known as “The Shrine” and a very popular local nightspot for young people, professors, civil servants, government officials and soldiers.

To quote Michael E. Veal in his book, Fela: The Life and Times of an African Musical Icon, “more than a mere entertainment club, Fela considered it an actual shrine to his ideological heroes – a space in which his political inclinations fused with musical incantations to assume spiritual dimensions.”

Next month sees the debut of FELA!, the live Broadway show from Tony Award-winner Bill T. Jones, based on the life and music of the legend. The critically acclaimed musical will open at the Eugen O’Neill Theatre in New York on November 23. Something not to be missed, as last year saw sold-out crowds dancing in the aisles during its premiere last summer at Off-Broadway 37 Arts. There’s also a new compilation, The Best of the Black President, which is a perfect for beginners to the Fela catalog as well as completists. Meanwhile, Felabrations happening from coast to coast will feature esteemed DJs such as Rich Medina, DJ Spinna, Ron Trent, DJ Nu-Mark, DJ Day, Jeremy Sole, DJ Kemit, J-Justice, Adam Gibbons, DJ Sun, Chicken George and Frank Gossner, as well as artists such as Roy Ayers, WUNMI, Ikebe Shakdown, Baba Ola Jagun, Amon, and many more.

Previously: Fela Lives!

More info: Giant Step