It’s been nearly two years since Femi Kuti’s performed in LA. He last brought his juju to the House of Blues in July 2007. This past January, Mr. Kuti canceled part of his North American tour, “due to illness” (according to various music blogs). It’s high time, and So-Cal fans are now pleased to hear the son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, is back with a new album and some new friends—Santigold and Raphael Saadiq—for the opening weekend at Hollywood Bowl.
Mr. Kuti comes from a unique dynasty that began in Abeokuta City, Nigeria, West Africa. His grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, was a Women’s Rights Activist—and the first woman to drive a car in her country. His father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, shaped the sound of West African bop to an ass-shaking sound known around the world as Afrobeat. Femi, Fela’s eldest son, took the reigns of the sound after his dad passed on in 1997. Femi even wrote and arranged a moving tribute song called “’97.”
Okay… enough with the history lesson.
To prep for Sunday’s show, I listened to selections from his latest album, “Day by Day.” One notable track is “Demo Crazy,” a 6/8 speed caffeine replacement. With his band, the Positive Force, Femi chants about the stress of life and complacency in an urban Lagos. The song is funky and aggressive (the Positive Force is a brassier version of Fela’s band, the Africa 70). It’s the perfect song to keep the mind off LA traffic. Hell, the message is not too far-fetched from living in the City of Angels.
Afrobeat music represents more than just another genre to which you do your two-step; it’s a movement. It’s a mix of American and traditional African forms where the composer speaks his mind on corruption and injustice around the world. Femi is the new ambassador of Afrobeat, and his father smiles upon him.
On June 21, we’re gonna party at the Hollywood Bowl, like it’s the New Afrika Shrine. Join us!
Femi Kuti – “‘97″
Femi Kuti – “Demo Crazy”
