Femi Kuti
a.k.a.
Femi Anikulapo Kuti
THE BEAT OF THE SON
Updating His Father's Afro-beat, Femi Kuti Stakes His Claim with the Sexually Charged SHOKI SHOKI
{|Femi Kuti|} has some sizable shoes to fill. As the son of Afro-beat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, this 37-year-old singer, saxophonist, and bandleader has labored for over a decade to carve out an identity apart from his infamous papa. But dad cast a long shadow: Fela's 40-member orchestras, 27 wives, penchants for pot smoking, political irreverence, and performing in his underpants -- not to mention his repeated clashes with Nigeria's military regime -- made him a figure of reverence throughout Africa and the world up until his death in 1997. But with SHOKI SHOKI, and its sexually charged hit "Beng Beng Beng," Femi has finally proven himself on the international stage. Winning Best Male Artist and Best Song at the all-Africa Kora Awards and lighting up dance floors throughout Europe, the younger Kuti is revitalizing Afro-beat, energizing the music's jazzy sprawl and tightening up the percussive dynamics. From his home in Lagos, Nigeria, Femi took time to discuss his father's legacy, African politics, and the sexy shock of his new sound.
barnesandnoble.com: What do you think about the rediscovery of Afro-beat? Was it something you'd anticipated?
Femi Kuti: Yes, I've always known. I don't think it's a rediscovery, I just see it's another generation that's become aware of it. I think when my generation is much older, they're going to hear about Fela and say, Wow. And maybe they'll know about me and say, Femi, Fela's son did this... But it will always go back to Fela at the end of the day.
bn.com: Do you think you'll encounter the kinds of problems your father did with the Nigerian government?
FK: I don't think about those things.... I try to think positive, otherwise it would discourage me from doing what I need to do. When we put fear in our way, we create the problems. I believe in what I'm doing, and I see myself as part of the solution to the problem, not part of the problem. Any reasonable government would see me as a friend.
bn.com: The way you present your message is different from Fela as well. How would he react to a song like "Beng Beng Beng"?
FK: He would laugh. He would die laughing. He would have done something even more dirty -- he would have said, "This is too polite!"
bn.com: The song was banned in Nigeria?
FK: It's still banned. It's popular because it won the African Album of the Year in South Africa, and people play it in their cars in the streets; everyone's got the tapes. They know the song. And it's on satellite TV, and the government doesn't block it. I was just having fun. I said, "Let's do something very commercial, the African way. Let's talk about sex." I was thinking very commercial.
bn.com: Can you describe growing up in Kalakuta, your father's compound?
FK: Well that would take hours. It was a very different way of life. Complete freedom...27 wives...it was really weird.
bn.com: Do you have children?
FK: Yeah, I have one boy. He's four now. And he's started to play the trumpet.
bn.com: Did you have a close relationship with your father?
FK: Towards the end, yeah. From my teens and then towards the end. When I left [Fela's] band in '86 to start my own band, he didn't like that. So we didn't talk until '91. From then it was very emotional, very close, until he died.
bn.com: Do you think about what he might be doing if he were alive now?
FK: I would have loved for him to be around my son, because the things he does would have made him laugh...to find out that he's playing the trumpet at four would have really amazed my father. I miss jamming with him onstage, we used to do that every Friday. I miss his jokes. Just talking to him about what's going on in the country and around the world -- his views were very interesting, and very humorous.
bn.com: While you don't seem as outspoken as your father, you've actually started a political organization in Nigeria, the Movement Against Second Slavery (MASS).
FK: I've resigned from MASS, because I found that a lot of our ideas are different. The other members want to be very subtle in tackling problems, which is not really my style. And they want to be involved in the religious side of things, and I'm not about that. Religion is part of the problem in Africa. What I want to do is start another organization around [my band] Positive Force, where I can really talk about what I want to talk about. Be truthful and honest, not afraid to express my views. I think you can find more diplomatic ways in expressing the truth, without being antagonistic and without kissing ass, you know?
bn.com: That doesn't sound like your father at all.
FK: I'm against acting stupid in expressing your views. People think I'm acting too much like my father, but I'm not direct like that. It's just that there are things that one can't compromise on.
bn.com: When you look around at all the unrest and conflict in Africa, what do you see?
FK: It just shows that democracy won't work in Africa. We have to go back to the olden days, and move ahead from there.... Until we can appreciate what went on during the slave trade, we'll have problems in terms of ruling ourselves. Africa is just waiting for Europe and the U.S. to tell them what next to do. We should use democracy to determine what system of government is best for the African people. The system of government in America cannot be suited for Africa. We're different. We have a different background, a different culture, a different heritage. Really, looking at it, how can we be sure the system works in France and England? From what I see, I'm not even 60 percent sure it works in these countries. And now it's superimposed on Africa, where you have hundreds of ethnic groups who will always feel unsatisfied, and where the effects of slavery and colonization and corruption have made Africans unready for this kind of government.
bn.com: Do you think that there's such a thing as too much democracy?
FK: Look at Cote d'Ivoire. You have elections, and the soldiers are back. There's too much interference from Western countries, and the so-called African leaders want the interference. They all want huge accounts in Europe and America, they want houses and cars. Then the multinationals are here teasing these so-called leaders with the goodies, and they forget why they're in power. No one thinks about developing Africa, making Africans comfortable. In five years, the country's in ruins. Then the leaders become dictators and the soldiers are back. It's the same story.
bn.com: You father frequently performed in his underwear. You wear Nigerian dress onstage. Do you always wear traditional clothes?
FK: Yes, every time I go out. I think it's important for Africans to wear what Africans wear. How do we appreciate our culture if we don't like our clothes? If everybody wants to wear a suit and tie, where is our culture? We're losing everything in Africa, so I try to encourage people to dress like this. Or to improvise on African fabric. Do something unique.
bn.com: Who are some of your saxophone influences?
FK: Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, James Moody, my father, a lot of jazz players like that. And I can't forget Grover Washington.
bn.com: Very soon we have Valentine's Day here in the States....
FK: I don't believe in Valentine's Day! I don't believe in Christmas or New Year's. Every day is Valentine's Day. Every day of life should be a day of love.
bn.com: Then what's your favorite love song?
FK: You have to ask my wife. If you let me choose, she'll break my head! If I was to choose right now...Barry White. It has to be something the girl will appreciate, and many women love Barry White. I'll choose that.
bn.com: Hey, what does SHOKI SHOKI mean?
FK: It's a very sexual word. I have to explain it to you when I see you! It's my nickname in Nigeria.
bn.com: So people were expecting something like "Beng Beng Beng."
FK: Yeah, the ones who know me well...I used to be a sex teacher. When we had shows on Sunday, I used to instruct about sexology. So that's how it came about.
bn.com: Are you blushing?
FK: No, no, it just makes me laugh!
Mark Schwartz
© 2009 All Media Guide, LLC