Get ready to Fela-brate! Throughout October, Spotify Africa is taking part in Nigeria's celebration month, which encompasses the birthday of acclaimed Nigerian artist and human rights activist Fela Kuti and Nigeria's 61st Independence Day. The month-long festivities serve as a reminder of the artist's leadership and activism in Nigeria and offer a time to reflect, rejoice, and remember. In the spirit of Felabration, Spotify teamed up with creators from across the country to explore Kuti's influence and to unpack the many facets of being Nigerian.
First, it's important to understand Kuti's impact on the local and global music scene. In the late 1960s, he pioneered a new musical blend of highlife, funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and traditional Yoruba music into what's called Afrobeat-a vibrant genre that continues to flourish today. To honor his legacy, in 1998, his daughter Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti started an annual music festival called Felabration in memory and celebration of her father.
To further the celebration, we partnered with HarperCollins Publishers on a playlist takeover by the acclaimed authors of Of This Our Country, a landmark collection of personal essays from a mix of 24 prize-winning and emerging Nigerian writers, to be published September 30. In their essays, authors Nels Abbey, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chigozie Obioma, and more share their memories and experiences of Nigeria.
Spotify worked with the authors to take over Black to the Future, a Spotify-curated playlist exploring Afro-futurism and the role Black creators around the world play within music that lasts until the end of October. As Nigeria celebrates their Independence Day, the authors of the anthology Of This Our Country explore the past, present, and future of Nigeria through its music. Featuring artists from political giants like Fela Kuti to social stalwarts like Davido, Black to the Future is a looking glass into the future through the past.
To build the tracklist, each writer handpicked a song to include that speaks to their idea of Nigeria. Writer Oyin Akande chose the modern hit Gbona by singer-songwriter Burna Boy, sharing, Burna Boy always gets me dancing, but this song speaks directly to the culture of gbedu. Gbedu is a large traditional Yoruba drum often used in Fela's songs, and the word has since evolved to describe Afrobeat music.
But many of the authors stuck with classics. Poet Inua Ellams explained that his choice, Ja Funmi by beloved j j singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist King Sunny Ade, evokes precious memories. It takes me back to parties and gatherings in my youth; my sisters and I running between the adults as they grooved slowly, tipsy, and carefree, Inua shared.
It's not easy to pin down or define Nigeria in an essay or a song, but together the words and rhythms paint a rich picture. To get a sneak peek at the far-reaching collection and takeover playlist, For the Record spoke with British-Nigerian satirist and author of Think Like a White Man, Nels Abbey, about his essay in the upcoming collection, the role of music in his writing, and the unique force that was Fela Kuti.
Of This Our Country's summary reads, To define Nigeria is to tell a half-truth. Many have tried, but most have concluded that it is impossible to capture the true scope and significance of Africa's most populous nation through words or images. Why did you want to take on the challenge? Nigeria is hard to capture because we all have unique relationships with her. I was eager to offer some insight into my relationship with Nigeria, what she means to me, and how she shaped my life-for better and for worse.
I want readers to obtain a front-row observation of the dashed hopes and dreams and realized fears and tears as well as the dramedy that was Nigeria, from my viewpoint, during the last year of the Babangida era and the entire Abacha era.
How would you describe your relationship to Nigeria? How has it evolved over the years? I would describe my relationship with Nigeria as: 40% unconditional love, 25% I miss home; I cannot wait to go back! , and 20% Why am I doing this to myself again? Home is London, not Nigeria! I cannot wait to leave!'' The final 15% is where there is room for evolution . . . and perhaps even the occasional revolution.
Like all deep relationships, my beautifully complicated relationship with Nigeria evolves and revolves.
Did you listen to any music when writing? Do any particular songs help you work or fuel your creative process? I am a metaphor- and simile-heavy writer, so I occasionally listen to music to get me in the mood to write or to inspire thought. Flavour N'abania, old-school Ice Cube, Nas, Talib Kweli, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Project Pat, JAY-Z, DaVido, Burna Boy, and, of course, Fela Kuti are some of my go-to people to help me write.
What is your relationship to Fela Kuti? Did his music influence your point of view or your relationship with Nigeria? Fela Kuti was a thinking person's musician. He was so deep and always ahead of his time. Much of what he said on records remains true till this very day. But beyond a source of information and absolutely fantastic music, he was a source of pride and inspiration. Fela's music breeds bravery and determination.
Why did you choose the song Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am by Fela Kuti for the Black to the Future playlist? What does the song mean to you? It is a perfectly Nigerian song. It speaks to the reality of Nigerian life. Everything can be going perfectly well and then . . . BOOM! It all comes crashing down. And when it does, things somehow manage to get worse. But through it all we still find a way to laugh and smile. Our humanity always shines through.
How would you describe Nigerian music and artists' influence on the global music scene? Nigeria
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
30/04/2024
By Adam Piron
In anticipation of this edition of the Indigenous Program's Native Lab, it actually dawned on me that this will be our lab's tenth year i...
30/04/2024
Launch of SBS South Asian channel and SBS Spice, a new English language offering...
30/04/2024
LOS ANGELES (April 30, 2024) Light Iron, the post-production creative-services division of Panavision, is excited to announce that lodie Ichter has joined th...
30/04/2024
Now streaming on Netflix, Good Grief marks the feature-film directorial debut of Daniel Levy, well known as the co-creator and costar of the series Schitt's...
30/04/2024
The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy's sweeping portrait of a wealthy British family in 1880s London, is getting its third TV adaptation in less than 60 years....
30/04/2024
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
30/04/2024
CAMPBELL, Calif. Streaming media company Plex and T-Mobile will work together to expand T-Mobile's connected TV (CTV) inventory and advance the connection b...
30/04/2024
SAN JOSE, Calif. & BELLEVUE, Wash. Roku, Inc. has announced an expanded measurement partnership with iSpot.tv, the cross-platform TV measurement company....
30/04/2024
NEW YORK As Paramount Global wrestled with management turmoil and ongoing negotiations for a proposed merger with Skydance, the company managed to report improv...
30/04/2024
Cobalt Digital Receives Trifecta of Awards at NAB 2024
Company adds two 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year awards and one Best of Show from TV Tech to long list...
30/04/2024
arkona technologies GmbH, provider of IP core infrastructure solutions for top-tier broadcast productions, has announced that its BLADE//runner IP Audio Engine ...
30/04/2024
OpenDrives, Inc., the global provider of software-defined media workflow solutions and data management capabilities, announced today that it has joined the glob...
30/04/2024
The first norm conform sustainability service dedicated to the needs of the events industry
Easy-to-use, intuitive platform for venues, event organisers and su...
30/04/2024
Dejero GateWay enables Stream7 to create independent internet connectivity at any venue or location, including UK teaching hospital for live streaming of surgic...
30/04/2024
Excitement is building as farmerswife, a leading software provider for resource scheduling, project management, and team collaboration in the media industry, ha...
30/04/2024
XL8, a leading deep-tech startup specializing in AI-powered machine translation technology, proudly announces the successful completion of a System and Organiza...
30/04/2024
Test & measurement innovator, Leader Electronics of Europe, has announced that it will exhibit at CABSAT, which takes place this year from 21-23 May 2024 at the...
30/04/2024
MRMC Debuts Cinebot Max Camera Robot at NAB 2024
Brie Clayton April 30, 2024
0 Comments
Expands its range of live-action, motion-control camera robots...
30/04/2024
Next Jazz Legacy Announces 2024 Cohort of Women and Nonbinary Awardees The program was created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender J...
30/04/2024
European telecom satellite company SES announced today that it is acquiring rival Intelsat for $3.1 billion. The deal, unanimously approved by both companies...
30/04/2024
Bob Bakish, chief executive of Paramount stepped down on Monday, effective immediately. Bakish, who was a staunch ally of Shari Redstone, controlling shareholde...
30/04/2024
Hotspring said the breakthrough had been achieved through the acceleration of machine learning technology
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 30, 2024
Ho...
30/04/2024
Speaking about the deal, Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, said: it will bring value-added, efficient, and reliable offerings for both companies media customers
By Je...
30/04/2024
Paramount said the Office of the CEO is working with its board to develop a comp...
30/04/2024
LOUISVILLE, Ky. In another sign that broadcasters are finally using NextGen TV broadcasts to offer viewers new features instead of simply simulcasting existing ...
30/04/2024
OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame will induct Blaise Labbe, a group news director for Sinclair Broadcast Group, May 2 at the 54th Anniversary I...
30/04/2024
ATLANTA and ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Cox Media Group and Dish have ended a dispute over retransmission fees that lasted nearly a year and a half with a new multi-year ...
30/04/2024
Video transport solution provider LTN has announced that it is working with TelevisaUnivision to help the Spanish-language media giant migrate to IP-based video...
30/04/2024
ALAMEDA, Calif. Clear-Com has released details about how it played a pivotal role in the seamless coverage of the recent solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 by NBC K...
30/04/2024
CINCINNATI The E.W. Scripps Company is adding Seth Walters to its sales leadership team as head of CTV sales, effective April 29....
30/04/2024
The force was strong at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Saturday night, April 27, 2024, as the night netted the ballpark's first official sellout crowd of...
30/04/2024
Revry, a network celebrating queer culture. said its second annual NewFront presentation will be a cabaret-type spectacle showcasing the spirit of the LGBTQ+ co...
30/04/2024
Family Entertainment Television (FETV) said that the Western series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp will be joining the network's afternoon lineup startin...
30/04/2024
Bob Bakish, president and CEO of Paramount Global, will depart the company as Paramount explores a merger, according to numerous published reports. The reports ...
30/04/2024
April 30th, 2024 Press Materials Available Here
TRIBECA FESTIVAL 2024 ANNOUNCES TALKS, REUNIONS, & RETROSPECTIVES
Live Conversations with Judd Apatow, Andy C...
30/04/2024
6 minute read
Share
alt=Alternative descriptive text class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
Telenor showed good momentum...
30/04/2024
SES Acquiring Intelsat to Create New Satellite Giant; Will Offer Improved Reach ...
30/04/2024
Wuppertal April 30, 2024
WDR Filmhaus to Implement Riedel Infrastructure Award-Winning MediorNet HorizoN Hybrid Processing Platform Serves as Bridge to IP
Ri...
30/04/2024
Back to All News
Tilda Swinton Joins Colin Farrell in Edward Bergers The Ballad...
30/04/2024
Back to All News
Netflix Reveals First Look Images and Teaser from Senna, Inspi...
30/04/2024
Back to All News
Top 10 Week of Apr. 22: Baby Reindeer' and Rebel Moon - ...
30/04/2024
Dr. Nicola Hodson, Chief Executive, IBM UK & Ireland introduces the UK findings of an IBM study on female leadership in the age of AI
Advances in Artificial In...
30/04/2024
Channel Expansion, and New Codecs, Compression and Transport Technology Among Latest Updates...
30/04/2024
Accel-KKR Credit Partners today announced that it has provided debt financing to support Dalet in its next chapter of innovation and growth. Accel-KKR Credit Pa...
30/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Monday's episode, 29 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soa...
30/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lewatle witnesses an explosive fight between Sthoko and B...
30/04/2024
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of David Murphy as its new Economics & Public Affairs Correspondent. David is currently RT 's Political Cove...
Get ready to Fela-brate! Throughout October, Spotify Africa is taking part in Nigeria's celebration month, which encompasses the birthday of acclaimed Nigerian artist and human rights activist Fela Kuti and Nigeria's 61st Independence Day. The month-long festivities serve as a reminder of the artist's leadership and activism in Nigeria and offer a time to reflect, rejoice, and remember. In the spirit of Felabration, Spotify teamed up with creators from across the country to explore Kuti's influence and to unpack the many facets of being Nigerian.
