IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson Introducing Fela Kuti: Fear No Man
Oct 17, 2025
Sandra Isidore, a singer and key figure in Fela Kuti's life, shares her journey from growing up in Watts to meeting the legendary Nigerian musician. They discuss how Sandra's influence inspired Fela to transition from jazz to Afrobeat after learning about Black history and politics. Archival clips of Fela reveal his bold stance against oppressive regimes through music. The conversation dives into the melding of genres, the birth of a revolutionary sound, and the impact of art as a means of resistance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Music As Political Weapon
- Fela Kuti transformed Afrobeat into a political weapon against Nigeria's state.
- Jad Abumrad frames Fela's life as a test of what art can do in a burning world.
Publicly Showing Police Brutality
- Fela publicly showed his beaten back to expose police brutality.
- He repeatedly endured beatings and jail yet never backed down.
Colonial Training Shaped Rebellion
- Fela studied classical music in London while Nigeria gained independence.
- His colonial education set up tensions that later fueled his rejection of colonial mentality.
