Reconciling Fela's Brilliance with His Flaws

Writer, composer, and Peabody Award-winning podcaster Jad Abumrad joins Kirk to talk about Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, his new 12-part series on the life, music, and legacy of Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti.

DISCUSSED/REFERENCED:

• “Miryea’s Death” by Jack Nitzche from Revenge, 1990
• “Prologue” by Alexandre Desplat from Birth, 2004
• Excerpt from Port(al), music by Paola Prestini and Jad Abumrad, performed by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus
• “It’s Highlife Time” and “Amaechi’s Blues” by Fela Kuti and his Koola Lobitos, ca. 1963-69
• “Jeun Ko Ku,” “Eko Ile,” and “Je’nwi Temi” by Fela Kuti from Afrodesiac, 1973
• “Zombie” by Fela Kuti from Zombie, 1976
• “The Great Curve” by Talking Heads from Remain in Light, 1980
• “Life During Wartime” and “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads from Stop Making Sense, 1984
• “The Prince We Never Knew“ - Sasha Weiss’ essential New York Times feature on Ezra Edelman’s unreleased Prince documentary
• “RITUAL” by Jon Hopkins from Ritual, 2024
• “Open Eye Signal” by Jon Hopkins from Immunity, 2013
• “A Quiet Glow” by Siavash Amini from Songs for Sad Poets, 2022
• “In The Dust of This Planet” - 2014 Radiolab Episode featuring the poetry of Eugene Thacker
• “The Right Man (Daniele Baldelli & Marco Dionigi Cosmic Remix)” from The Units - Connections, 2011
• “quiero sentirme bien” by Kali Uchis from Sin Miedo, 2020
• “Looking for Love” by The Tallest Man On Earth from Henry St., 2023
• “Sweet Surrender” by Sarah McLachlan from Mirrorball, 1999

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