ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    1/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    rjtu`o`gtjvjsithf g`sf der dfo` kutj

    & ao`gk `drjg`

    gur`tfm ay`ii` ajr`ceder `ajc`jo dr`lgfs eoudulij-o`ye kutj,

    ` weifls' rjchts `gtjvjst

    thf pestgeoelj`o geultry `lm pfrsel, thf emms `lm thfjr s`ljty;el KfoofrsI`mlfss `lm Geoeljz`tjel, Ougfres]hf ^eojtjgs ed Qjtu`o.

    Qjtu`o der psyghjg `lm segj`o ul`ljijty `lm wfoolfss.

    El thf m`y pfepof s`jm ceemayf te Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-Kutj,

    thf sul shelf `lm thf hf`vfls r`jlfm `t thf s`if tjif. Shfl thjs h`ppfls,

    ` Ljcfrj`l ijcht easfrvf th`t ` tjcfr h`s cjvfl ajrth te ` ghjom.

    Klex Qeajlsel, Dfo`; Drei Sfst @drjg` te Sfst Are`mw`y

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    2/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    "J g`if a`gk heif wjth thf jltflt te gh`lcf thf wheof systfi.

    J mjml't klew J w`s cejlc te h`vf ... sugh herrers! J mjml't klew thfy cell`

    cjvf if sugh eppesjtjel afg`usf ed iy lfw @drjg`ljsi. "

    O`r`y Mflzfr jl Dfo` ]hjs Ajtgh ed ` Ojdf,

    ay G`roes Ieerf

    Qfojcjeus Ievfiflts `lm ^eojtjgs jl Wua-W`h`r`l @drjg`

    ]frflgf E. Q`lcfr

    K`ojoeiaf rfi`rks th`t "hjstery h`s mfielstr`tfm tjif `lm `c`jl th`t pf`s`lts' petfltj`o der arjlcjlc `aeut

    if`ljlcduo `lm o`stjlc gh`lcf js r`rfoy `gtjv`tfm drei wjthjl thfisfovfs `oelf.... @s ` ruof thf mfgjsjvf d`gter

    geifs drei eutsjmf." Aut drei whei5 Let drei oeg`o @drjg`l prephfts, ojvjlc jl thfjr mrf`i werom; let drei

    of`mfrs ed i`ss l`tjel`ojsi, "whe thfisfovfs afoelc te thf pewfrduo go`ssfs" `lm whe lew epprfss thf pfepof jl

    thfjr turl; let fvfl drei of`mfrs ed `rifm rfveoutjel whe h`vf `oo tee edtfl usfm "thf i`ssfs te durthfr thfjr ewl

    sfodjsh `jis [whjghY h`s ofm thf pfepof te afgeif suspjgjeus ed `ly rfveoutjel`ry djrfar`lms go`jijlc te bejl wjththfi der ojafr`tjel."

    Jl thjs gelgrftf sjtu`tjel ed geltfiper`ry @drjg` wf `rf `skjlc wh`t thf pessjajojtjfs` rf der thf pewfrofss` lm

    jipevfrjshfm i`ssfs te p`rtjgjp`tf jl thf kjlm ed [ojafr`tjelY thfeoecy wf mfsgrjafm... ^fepof `t thf cr`ssreets rf`gt

    jl d`gf ed ` crewjlc sflsf ed pewfrofsslfss `lm fxpoejt`tjel. ]hf prfpelmfr`lt rf`gtjel js th`t ed pfepof

    fvfrywhfrf whe... afgeif gelvjlgfm th`t jlmffm thfy `rf... pewfrofss, jcler`lt, er eut ed teugh wjth thf

    i`jlstrf`i ed hjstery. ]hfy mfvfoep rfdofxfs ed jldfrjerjty... ]hfy try te jlsuo`tf thfisfovfs jl ` ojttof werom ed thfjr

    ewl.... []hfyY `rf ojkfoy te mfvfoep str`tfcjfs ed survjv`o th`t jl thf oelc rul prevf sfod-mfdf`tjlc. Weiftjifs thfy

    t`kf rfducf jl... seif typf ed rfojcjeus guots, er ethfr mjstr`gtjlc heaajfs.... ^fepof cft usfm te ojvjlc jl ` mrf`i

    werom. Jt afgeifs mjddjguot der thfi te `l`oysf fvflts `lm rf`ojtjfs seafroy.... @lm yft jt js thf pfepof `t thf

    cr`ssreets th`t h`vf thf petfltj`o der if`ljlcduo gh`lcf. K`ojoeiaf rfi`rks th`t "hjstery h`s mfielstr`tfm tjif `lm

    `c`jl th`t pf`s`lts' petfltj`o der arjlcjlc `aeut if`ljlcduo `lm o`stjlc gh`lcf js r`rfoy `gtjv`tfm drei wjthjl

    thfisfovfs `oelf.... @s ` ruof thf mfgjsjvf d`gter geifs drei eutsjmf." Aut drei whei5 Let drei oeg`o @drjg`l

    prephfts, ojvjlc jl thfjr mrf`i werom; let drei of`mfrs ed i`ss l`tjel`ojsi, "whe thfisfovfs afoelc te thf pewfrduo

    go`ssfs" `lm whe lew epprfss thf pfepof jl thfjr turl; let fvfl drei of`mfrs ed `rifm rfveoutjel whe h`vf `oo tee

    edtfl usfm "thf i`ssfs te durthfr thfjr ewl sfodjsh `jis [whjghY h`s ofm thf pfepof te afgeif suspjgjeus ed `ly

    rfveoutjel`ry djrfar`lms go`jijlc te bejl wjth thfi der ojafr`tjel." Sh`t js lffmfm js truf rfojcjeus ojafr`tjel

    (K`ojoeiaf, 0:8=)2 g`p`aof ed ulof`shjlc ` pewfr `ielc thesf whe h`vf hjthfrte affl pewfrofss.... ^fepof

    afcjl te thjlk der thfisfovfs jl ` grjtjg`o w`y....

    ... ^fepofs ievfiflts jl @drjg` h`vf `ow`ys o`gkfm thfjr ewl, j.f. @drjg`l jmfeoecy...[`l m thfyY h`vf cflfr`ooy

    t`kfl thf deri ed p`ssjvf rfsjst`lgf, drfqufltoy o`gkfm `ccrfssjvf pewfr. Drei th`t pfrspfgtjvf jt i`y wfoo af

    th`t lewhfrf js thfrf ierf t`ok `aeut gh`lcf th`l jl @drjg`. Zft, wjthjl @drjg`, dfw g`l rf`ooy trjccfr gh`lcf.Hfrfjl ojfs thf crf`t `cely ed @drjg`'s pepuo`r sfltjiflts.... ]e mfsgrjaf pfepof's ievfiflts jl @drjg` jt js

    lfgfss`ry te rfgecljsf thfjr ulmfr-oyjlc `ttjtumf, whjgh js elf ed `gtjvf w`jtjlc `lm `gtjvf hepf.... ]e eutojvf thf

    rfprfssjel, jl jts v`rjeus deris, js te c`jl vjgtery.

    Qfojcjeus Ievfiflts `lm ^eojtjgs jl Wua-W`h`r`l @drjg`

    ]frflgf E. Q`lcfr

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    3/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    Cr`h`i H`rrjsel ]hf Mf`th ed ^eojtjg`o Wtruccof

    Arjlcjlc ^eojtjg`o Wtruccof A`gk jl2 @drjg`l ^eojtjgs, ^ewfr & Qfsjst`lgf

    ]hf jipert`lgf ed peojtjg`o struccof `s ` kfy letjel jl thf ulmfrst`lmjlc ed geltfiper`ry @drjg`l peojtjgs. Jt mefs se

    wjth `l `w`rflfss th`t thjs letjel h`s d`oofl eut ed `g`mfijg d`veur. ]hjs `rtjgof skftghfs `l `ppre`gh th`t cjvfs `

    kfy reof te peojtjg`o struccof jl pregfssfs ed peojtjg`o gh`lcf jl sua-W`h`r`l @drjg`. Jl mejlc se, @drjg`l peojtjg`o

    fgeleijfs `rf sffl `s lfgfss`rjoy geltfstfm `lm thfrfderf thfrf js ` lffm (te rf-werk thf phr`sf ed thf lfw

    st`tjsts/jlstjtutjel`ojsts) te gelsjmfr arjlcjlc struccof a`gk jl te thf `l`oytjg`o dr`if. ^eojtjg`o struccof js usfm jl thjs

    `rtjgof `s ` thferftjg`o tfri; jt js let suppesfm te `ooumf te ` spfgjdjg jlstjtutjel`o deri er ` gfrt`jl peojtjg`o `cflm`.

    Wtruccof js ` pregfss, ` rfsuot ed ieajojs`tjel prevekfm ay seif deri ed rfsjst`lgf.

    ]hf Jipert ed ` ^estgeoelj`o I`sguojljty

    Mfrfk Wt`levsky, Dfo` `lm Hjs Sjvfs

    Hewfvfr, jd g`pturjlc `l ji`cjlfm, oest @drjg`l purjty js let thf ce`o, thfl pfrh`ps Dfo` js ` vfry ceem ghejgf `s `

    rfprfsflt`tjvf ed @drjg`l iusjg. Hjs iusjg js ` premugt ed @drjg`'s geoelj`o `lm pestgeoelj`o hjstery `lm `s sugh

    rfprfsflts thf prfsflt rf`ojtjfs ed @drjg`. Sh`t Dfo` o`gks jl purjty ed l`tjvf `uthfltjgjty, hf ierf th`l i`kfs up der

    jl rjghlfss ed pestgeoelj`o dusjel. Der Dfo`, thf jmfltjty ed "@drjg`l" h`s ` usf jl hjs p`l-@drjg`l peojtjgs deraujomjlc seojm`rjty `gress l`tjel`o aeulm`rjfs `lm `gress ojlcujstjg `lm guotur`o a`rrjfrs jl `l fddert te aujom `l

    jltfrl`tjel`o peojtjg`o ievfiflt.

    Behl Hewf. Dfo` `ljkuo`pe kutj2 @l helfst i`l

    Shfl Dfo` spekf - `s hf edtfl mjm - jl thf l`if ed @drjg`, hf i`y h`vf affl prebfgtjlc seif ed thf `ttjtumfs ed `

    d`ieus, fggfltrjg, suggfssduo, Sfstfrljzfm, uppfr-go`ss Zerua` `l`rghjst `lm aehfij`l el ` o`rcfoy

    ulgeiprfhflmjlc geltjlflt; aut pfepof `ose ulmfrsteem th`t thf @drjg` hf rfdfrrfm te w`s ` geoeljzfm @drjg` whesf

    prjv`tf hjstery h`m affl mjsruptfm ay eutsjmf dergfs `lm lffmfm te af rfo`ulghfm. ]hjs kl`gk ed afjlc wrelc, aut

    rjcht, flmf`rfm Dfo` te hjs gelstjtuflts, aut `ose puzzofm fvfryelf `lm flr`cfm thf pewfrduo jlmjvjmu`os jipojgjtoy

    grjtjgjzfm, `t thf s`if tjif prevjmjlc thfi wjth `iiuljtjel te usf `c`jlst hji.

    Zerua` weifl `lm thf s`lgtjty ed`ausf

    @lmrfw @ptfr, Mjsgeursf `lm jts mjsgoesurfs.

    Jt js let ulgeiiel der thesf whe ojvf `ielcst prjijtjvf pfepofs te geif `gress 'easgfljty' jl spffgh `lm `gtjel.

    ]hjs 'easgfljty' js edtfl let `l fxprfssjel ay `l jlmjvjmu`o uttfrfm ulmfr crf`t strfss `lm gelmfilfm `s a`m t`stf,

    aut js `l fxprfssjel ay ` creup ed pfrsels `lm js pfrijttfm `lm fvfl prfsgrjafm ay segjfty.

    'Geoofgtjvf Fxprfssjels ed Easgfljty jl @drjg`'.

    Fx`ijljlc thf Qfveoutjel`ry Welcs ed Dulijo`ye Q`lseif-Kutj `lm thf @afekut` I`rkft Seifl's

    Ievfiflt jl 0:=>s Sfstfrl Ljcfrj`

    ]hf prji`ry geltfltjel hfrf js th`t hf w`s hf`vjoy jldouflgfm aeth iusjg`ooy `lm peojtjg`ooy ay hjs iethfr. Of`mjlc

    ` creup ed fia`ttofm oeg`o weifl, Dulijo`ye Q`lseif-Kutj (0:>>-0:38) geldreltfm mffpoy reetfm tr`mjtjel`o

    p`trj`rghy `lm thf ghekjlc tflt`gofs ed geoelj`ojsi jl 0:=>s @afekut`. D`r drei mftr`gtjlc drei thf fxjstjlc

    mjsgeursf el Dfo`, thjs p`pfr sffks te `mm ` vjt`o mjiflsjel te eur ulmfrst`lmjlc ed hjs cfljus ay fx`ijljlc goesfoy

    thf gh`r`gtfr ed Dulijo`ye Q`lseif-Kutj (DQK) `lm thf selcs th`t shf `lm thf i`rkft weifl grf`tfm `lm s`lc

    murjlc thfjr rfveot jl @afekut`. ]hf r`rf `ttfltjel th`t ` dfw ed Dfo`'s ajecr`phfrs h`vf afstewfm el hjs iethfr's

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    4/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    `gtjvjsi h`s let goesfoy fx`ijlfm thf l`turf ed hfr `gtjvjsi jl rfo`tjel te hjs iusjg.

    Dfo`'s Deulm`tjel2 Fx`ijljlc thf Qfveoutjel`ry Welcs ed Dulijo`ye Q`lseif-Kutj `lm thf @afekut`

    I`rkft Seifl's Ievfiflt jl 0:=>s Sfstfrl Ljcfrj`

    Whelfk`l, Wtfph`ljf

    ^o`ys, ^essfssjel, `lm Qegk-`lm-Qeoo ^eojtjg`o ]hf`trf jl @drjg`,

    ^ftfr Vkpekemu

    Dfo` h`s let eddfrfm i`ly spfgjdjgs `aeut hew ` rfturl te @drjg`l

    tr`mjtjel`ojsi weuom af squ`rfm wjth iemfrl tfghleoecy, whjgh hf mjstrusts.

    ]hf thjl ojlf aftwffl rfojcjel `lm mr`i`, aftwffl rjtu`o` lm thf`trf, thf "s`grfm," pfrh`ps s`ovjdjg l`turf ed thf twe,

    `lm p`rtjguo`royth fjr gfofar`tery` lm tr`lsderi`tjvfqu `ojtjfs-ed whjgh Qjgh`rm Wghfghlfrh `s wrjttflw jth

    `l`oytjg`ojl sjcht (0:342J:4-111; 0:86; J:8326-77)-geif te thf derf jl thfsf fxpfrjiflts. Dfo` Iusjg, fspfgj`ooy `s

    pr`gtjgfm ay thf Ljcfrj`l iusjgj`l, Dfo` @ljkuo`pe- Kutj (derifroy Dfo` Q`lseif-Kutj), h`s `ose afgeif ` p`rte d

    thf pfrderi jlc `rts segjepeojtjg`o pretfsts. Shjof thf oyrjgs ed sugh rfgermjlcs `s "Reiajf" (0:34) `lm "Af`sts ed

    Le L`tjel" (0:8:) `rf `lleyjlc fleuch der thf ijojt`ry rfcjif ed Ljcfrj`-thf pfrv`mjlc ji`cf js th`t ed thf jltfo-

    ofgtu`ooy mfdjgjflt `lm `lji`ojstjg i`l-ed-`ris geltreoojlc thf l`tjel - jt js Dfo`'s ojvf pfrderi`lgfs th`t mrjvf thfrfcjif jls`lf. Dfo`'s ojvf shew js aeth ` iusjg`o `lm ` vfra`o `tt`gk el thf Ljcfrj`l cevfrliflt. Hf `ow`ys h`s `

    o`rcf deooewjlc ed stumflt `umjflgfs `oo evfr thf geultry. @t @afekut` jl @prjo 0:8: thf peojgf dergjaoy prfvfltfm

    Dfo` drei pfrderijlc der ` stumflt `umjflgf ed 1>,>>>. ]wjgf (jl 0:38 `lm 0:84) Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-Kutj h`s affl

    af`tfl `lm b`jofm der hjs eutspekfl `tt`gks el cevfrliflt gerruptjel `lm peojgf rf-prfssjel. Jl elf s`v`cf `tt`gk ay

    seomjfrs jl 0:38, hjs heusf `lm "shrjlf"- thf l`if ed hjs thf`trf jl O`ces-wfrf r`zfm (Cr`ss J:842070-=8). Hf h`s

    afgeif thf r`ooyjlc pejlt der `lcry uljvfrsjty stumflts `lm mjs`ddfgtfm i`ssfs. Let fvfl thf d`gt th`t hjs sfljer

    arethfr js thf Ijljstfr der Hf`oth h`s soewfm mewl hjs vfra`o `lm iusjg`o `tt`gks el thf prfsflt cevfrliflt ed

    Ljcfrj`. Jl `l jltfrvjfw wjth Dfo` jl Oelmel, B`lf Arygf easfrvfs th`t selcs sugh `s "Af`sts ed Le L`tjel," wjth jts

    rfdr`jl rjmjguojlc thf hui`l rjchts gh`r`mf ed thf ijojt`ry cevfrliflt, h`vf let flmf`rfm Dfo` te ^rfsj-mflt

    A`a`lcjm` (0:8:201-07).

    Qjtu`o2 ^frspfgtjvfs `lm Mjiflsjels2G`thfrjlf Afoo

    Qjtu`o2 ^frspfgtjvfs `lm Mjiflsjels2

    G`thfrjlf Afoo

    rjtu`o `s tr`mjtjel`o, geoofgtjvf rfprfsflt`tjel, jipoyjlc th`t thf letjel ed jlmjvjmu`o

    er jlvfltfm rjtu`o w`s ` geltr`mjgtjel jl tfris.

    ]hf tflmflgy te thjlk ed rjtu`o `s fssfltj`ooy ulgh`lcjlc h`s celf h`lm jl h`lm wjth thf fqu`ooy geiiel

    `ssuiptjel th`t fddfgtjvf rjtu`os g`llet af jlvfltfm. Vltjo vfry rfgfltoy, iest pfepofs geiielsflsf letjel ed

    rjtu`o if`lt th`t seifelf geuom let sjipoy mrf`i up ` rjtf th`t weuom werk thf w`y tr`mjtjel`o rjtu`o h`s werkfm.

    Wugh ` phfleiflel, jd jt geuom h`ppfl, weuom sffi te ulmfrijlf thf jipert`lt reofs cjvfl te geiiuljty, gustei,

    `lm gelsflsus jl eur ulmfrst`lmjlc ed rfojcjel `lm rjtu`o.

    ]hf dulm`iflt`o fddjg`gy ed rjtu`o `gtjvjty

    ojfs jl jts `ajojty te h`vf pfepof fiaemy `ssuiptjels `aeut thfjr po`gf jl ` o`rcfr

    ermfr ed thjlcs.

    ]hjs lfw rjtu`o p`r`mjci h`s ierf suatof r`ijdjg`tjels `s wfoo. ]r`mjtjel`ooy, der fx`ipof, thf ofcjtji`tf `utherjty

    `lm fddjg`gy ed rjtu`o wfrf goesfoy jltfrtwjlfm. Der jlvfltfm rjtfs, whjgh `rf let mffpoy reetfm jl `ly sh`rfm sflsf ed

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    5/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    tr`mjtjel, hewfvfr, ofcjtji`gy `lm `utherjty tflm te af gelstrufm ierf ojchtoy `lm el qujtf mjddfrflt creulms. Der

    th`t rf`sel, pfrh`ps, iugh crf`tfr wfjcht `ppf`rs te d`oo el thf mjiflsjel ed fddjg`gy.

    ]hf jipojgjt myl`ijg `lm flm ed rjtu`ojz`tjel - th`t whjgh jt mefs let sff jtsfod mejlc - g`l af s`jm te af thf

    premugtjel ed ` rjtu`ojzfm aemy. @ rjtu`ojzfm aemy js ` aemy jlvfstfm wjth ` sflsf ed rjtu`o. ]hjs sflsf ed rjtu`o

    fxjsts `s `l jipojgjt v`rjfty ed sghfifs whesf mfpoeyiflt werks te premugf segjeguotur`o sjtu`tjels th`t thf

    rjtu`ojzfm aemy g`l meijl`tf jl seif w`y. ]hjs js ` pr`gtjg`o i`stfry, te usf Aeurmjfus tfri, ed str`tfcjg

    sghfifs der rjtu`ojz`tjel, `lm jt `ppf`rs `s ` segj`o jlstjlgt der grf`tjlc `lm i`ljpuo`tjlc geltr`sts. ]hjs sflsf js

    let ` i`ttfr ed sfod-gelsgjeus klewofmcf ed `ly fxpojgjt ruofs ed rjtu`o aut `s `l jipojgjt guotjv`tfm mjspesjtjel.

    Qjtu`ojz`tjel premugfs thjs rjtu`ojzfm aemy threuch thf jltfr`gtjel ed thf aemy wjth ` strugturfm `lm strugturjlc

    flvjreliflt.

    Drff `t O`st - Lew ]h`t thf Ljchti`rf js Evfr, Dfo` H`s ` Mrf`i ay

    Qecfr Wtfddfls, E^]JEL, Wfp/Egt 0:84.

    Dfo` @ljkuo`pe Kutj2 Hf She G`rrjfs Mf`th jl hjs ^eugh. Ao`gk ^rfsjmflt. A`lm of`mfr `lm rfveoutjel`ry dreiO`ces, Ljcfrj`. Hfs oest geult ed thf tjifs hfs affl jiprjselfm. Hjs iest rfgflt aust put hji afhjlm a`rs der 08

    ielths. ]hf gh`rcfs wfrf ao`t`ltoy d`osf; fvfltu`ooy thf bumcf whe h`m sfltflgfm hji g`if te afc hjs dercjvflfss,

    `dtfr whjgh thf i`cjstr`tf w`s kjgkfm edd thf aflgh `lm Dfo` rfof`sfm ulgelmjtjel`ooy, `oo thf gh`rcfs mreppfm.

    .0:84, drei Oes @lcfofs, hf rfturlfm te Ljcfrj` `s ` djrfar`lm, jlvfltjlc ` lfw deri ed iusjg g`oofm @dreaf`t,

    ` rfm-het ijx ed dulk `lm Sfst @drjg`l rjmmjis. Hjs treuaofs st`rtfm `oiest jiifmj`tfoy. Hjs oyrjgs l`ifm l`ifs

    `lm mfi`lmfm rfderis jl thf pest-gjvjo w`r yf`rs ed thf Wfvfltjfs.

    Elf ed thf thjlcs th`t d`sgjl`tfm if jl thf Ljcfrj`l Lfwsw`tgh `rtjgof th`t `ppf`rfm rjcht `dtfr yeur rfof`sf

    w`s yeur t`okjlc `aeut thf Lfw @cf iusjg `lm iusjg der thf @cf ed @qu`rjus. ]e us thjs sffis ojkf

    seifthjlc ` G`ojderlj` hjppjf ijcht s`y, `lm te hf`r yeu, thf hf`m ed thf Ievfiflt ed thf ^fepof jl O`ces,

    Ljcfrj` t`okjlc ` mfsjrf te i`kf Lfw @cf iusjg `aseoutfoy d`sgjl`tfm if.

    J w`s vfry spjrjtu`ooy `w`rf, aut suagelsgjeusoy spjrjtu`ooy `w`rf. Aut jl 0:80 J afg`if gelsgjeusoy spjrjtu`ooy`w`rf.

    S`s th`t threuch ^redfsser Hjlmu5Zfs, threuch ` tr`lgf J h`m te ce threuch. Zeu sff, J h`ppfl te klew th`t seif hui`l afjlcs h`vf te ce threuch `

    kjlm ed gh`lcf ed ojdf `t ` p`rtjguo`r tjif ed thfjr ojvfs.

    Shfl thf strugturf js rf`my der thf tr`lsderi`tjel5Fx`gtoy. Shfl thf fxpfrjflgf ed thf strugturf js rf`my, thf tr`lsderi`tjel h`s te t`kf po`gf whfthfr elf ojkfs jt er

    let. J mjm let klew `aeut thf tr`lsderi`tjel. Iy iethfr whe klfw `aeut jt h`m mjfm. We thfrf w`s leaemy te hfop

    if threuch thf tr`lsderi`tjel. thf purpesf ed thf tr`lgf w`s te shew if wh`t ojdf w`s `oo `aeut, whjgh J s`w

    vfry gof`roy. Jt w`s ojkf ` djoi, jt w`s ` wheof twe heur rjtu`o J wflt threuch jl whjgh J s`w ` oet ed thjlcs. Jt w`s

    vfry spjrjtu`o `lm rf`o.

    Drff `t O`st - Lew ]h`t thf Ljchti`rf js Evfr, Dfo` H`s ` Mrf`i ay

    Qecfr Wtfddfls, E^]JEL, Wfp/Egt 0:84.

    Tj`, L`jb` Iusjg Aoec, `ose ]hf Whrjlf.

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    6/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    ` hjstery ed rjtu`os js hjstery ed rfpremugtjel, geltfst`tjel, tr`lsderi`tjel ...

    Hew g`l ` lfw ghurgh, sgheeo, kjlcmei, geoely, l`tjel, p`rty, "Geiiel I`rkft," er ethfr "ji`cjlfm geiiuljty"

    geif jlte afjlc fxgfpt threuch jts ewl gh`r`gtfrjstjg rjtu`os5 G`l ` st`tf af uli`mf ay ` g`rljv`o5

    Hjstery, Wtrugturf, `lm Qjtu`o, Behl M. Kfooy `lm I`rth` K`po`l

    Tjgter ]urlfr, ]hf Qjtu`o ^regfss2

    Wtrugturf `lm @ltj-Wtrugturf.

    Wjlgf segjftjfs `rf pregfssfs rfspelsjvf te gh`lcf, let djxfm strugturfs, lfw rjtu`os `rf mfvjsfm er aerrewfm, `lm eom

    elfs mfgojlf `lm mjs`ppf`r. Lfvfrthfofss, deris survjvf threuch doux, `lm lfw rjtu`o jtfis, fvfl lfw rjtu`o

    geldjcur`tjels, tflm ierf edtfl te af v`rj`lts ed eom thfifs th`l r`mjg`o levfotjfs.

    J rfifiafr sffjlc hji der thf djrst tjif bust `s jd jt w`s yfstfrm`y. ]hreuch thf goeums ed siekf `lm `otfrfm ay thf

    "geif hjthfr" coew ed rfm `lm aouf auoas th`t erm` jlfm thf goua, hf steem wjth rfo`tjvf f`sf. `l eiljpetflt

    syiaeo ed ` aeom `lm `lcry lfw @drjg`. J w`s jlst`ltoy ifsifrjzfm `lm weuom af der ojdf. Hf w`s a`rfghfstfm `lm sffifm eaojvjeus te thf thjl djoi ed swf`t th`t mfdjfm thf geeo wjlm afjlc mjspfrsfm ay

    hucf gfjojlc d`ls `aevf `lm th`t gevfrfm hjs sjlfwy faely dr`if. Elf gjrgof - jl wh`t iust af seif typf ed

    tr`mjtjel`o Zerua` gh`ok - flgjrgofm elf fyf i`kjlc hji oeek ierf ojkf ` wjlkjlc r`ggeel th`l `rcu`aoy @drjg`'s

    iest vjar`lt sjlcfr so`sh `gtjvjst. Jkfb`, jt js gjrg` o`tf 0:3> "]hf Whrjlf"

    A`a` js Mf`m -- Aut Oelc Ojvf A`a`.

    Jwfmj Ebjli`h

    @ljkuo`pe-Kutj w`s thf eloy supfrst`r @drjg`l `rtjst whe w`s puaojg`ooy

    flc`cjlc rjtu`o pr`gtjgfs whjof fxpoerjlc @drjg`l tr`mjtjel`o iusjg.

    Ghjkuku`lce Guxji`-Rw`. @lceo`l Aemy ^`jltjlc ^frderi`lgfs2

    @rtjguo`tjels ed Mj`sperjg Mjsoeg`tjel, ^estgeoelj`ojsi `lm Jltfrguotur`ojsi jl Arjt`jl.

    @ljkuo`pe-Kutjs rjtu`ojstjg gfrfieljfs jl hjs sf`rgh der mffpfr @drjg`l spjrjtu`ojty `lm iemfrljty. J w`s d`sgjl`tfmte djlm eut th`t @ljkuo`pe-Kutj pfrderifm ojvf jl hjs shjlf fvfrym`y `t 12>>`i jl sjoflgf, p`yjlc rfspfgt te thf

    Zerua` spjrjts ed Wh`lce, Jd`, Fshu `lm Ecul; thf s`if crf`t spjrjts th`t `rf deulm jl @dre-Gua`l, Ar`zjoj`l,

    H`jtj`l `lm G`rjaaf`l guots `lm jl Lerth @ifrjg` jl veemee. Murjlc thfsf pfrderi`lgfs hf s`grjdjgfm ` ghjgkfl `s

    ` deri ed aofssjlc hjs iusjg (Eoerulyeiy, 1>>72 078). Hf s`grjdjgfm ` ghjgkfl te rfprfsflt thf pewfr `lm gress

    gellfgtjels aftwffl thf vjsjaof iert`o werom `lm thf jlvjsjaof jiiert`o werom, thf ghjgkfl w`s thf if`ls `lm

    `vfluf aftwffl thf twe weroms (Tf`o, 1>>72 7:). ]hf tr`ddjg ed flfrcy `lm dergfs aftwffl thfi js sft-up murjlc thf

    s`grjdjgf ed thf ghjgkfl. Sh`t J deulm `ppf`ojlc w`s th`t, murjlc @ljkuo`pe-Kutjs rjtu`os ...thf jltflt `lm

    fiph`sjs ed s`grjdjgf js let upel thf mf`th ed thf `lji`o, jt js upel thf tr`lsdusjel ed jts ojdf... drei thf physjg`o te

    spjrjtu`o werom (Mfrfl, 1>>=2 104).Jl ethfr werms, dofsh `lm aoeem afg`if thf fssflgf ed ojdf `lm mf`th ` mjvjlf

    flfrcy wjth thf cems jl Zerua` iytheoecjg`o mjvjljty (Eoerulyeiy, 1>>72 076).

    ]e thf ^`l-@drjg`l werom, Dfo` w`s ` tewfrjlc djcurf whe `rcu`aoy geiajlfm fofiflts ed purf `rtjstry, peojtjg`o

    pfrsfvfr`lgf, `lm ` iystjg, spjrjtu`o gelsgjeuslfss jl ` w`y th`t le ethfr jlmjvjmu`o fvfr h`s. Wpjrjtu`ooy, ofss js

    klewl `aeut Dfo`, fxgfpt th`t hjs spjrjtu`o vjsjel crfw drei thf @drjg`l tr`mjtjel `lm hjs afojfd jl thf suaojif

    pewfr ed iusjgj`ls hjs mf`th w`s letfm jl thf Sfstfrl prfss ay lfwsp`pfrs `lm i`c`zjlfs r`lcjlc drei ]hf

    Lfw Zerk ]jifs`lm]jifi`c`zjlf teQeoojlc Wtelf`lm Wpjl.

    G`rtfr T`l ^fot, ]hf Af`t, 0::3

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    7/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    ]hfy wfrf gfrt`jloy trf`tfm `s sugh ay thf Ljcfrj`l cevfrliflt, whjgh a`llfm hjs iusjg el cevfrliflt r`mje

    st`tjels `lm h`r`ssfm, af`t `lm jiprjselfm Dfo` el ` luiafr ed egg`sjels. ]hf iest arut`o jlgjmflt eggurrfm jl

    0:33 whfl hulmrfms ed seomjfrs surreulmfm `lm evfrr`l hjs geiiul`o heif, aurlfm jt te thf creulm, jlburfm

    mezfls ed suppertfrs `lm rfsjmflts, af`t Dfo` hjisfod te ulgelsgjeuslfss, arekf hjs h`lms, `lm thrfw hjs sfvflty-sfvfl yf`r eom iethfr drei ` wjlmew, g`usjlc hfr jlburjfs drei whjgh shf o`tfr mjfm.

    Jt w`s thjs `tt`gk th`t gfifltfm Dfo`'s rfveoutjel`ry peojtjg`o geiijtiflts. Jt w`s `ose `dtfr thjs `tt`gk th`t hf

    i`rrjfm thf twflty-sfvfl weifl, m`lgfrs jl hjs a`lm, jl ` tr`mjtjel`o trja`o gfrfiely, `l `gt wjth l`tjel`ojst

    evfrtelfs jl Ljcfrj` `lm `l `ddjri`tjel ed trja`o guoturf, geltfxts whjgh `rf mjddjguot der Sfstfrl `umjflgfs te

    `pprfgj`tf.

    ]hf Jipert ed ` ^estgeoelj`o I`sguojljty

    Mfrfk Wt`levsky, Dfo` `lm Hjs Sjvfs

    Ao`gk ^rfsjmflt2 ]hf @rt `lm Ofc`gy ed Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-KutjFxhjajtjel gur`tfm ay ]rfver Wgheeli`kfr der thf Lfw Iusfui

    Buoy 00 - Wfptfiafr 18, 1>>7

    Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-Kutj (0:78-:3) w`s ` iusjg`o rfveoutjel`ry whe `ghjfvfm ` ofvfo ed st`rmei jl hjs l`tjvf Ljcfrj`

    a`rfoy ji`cjl`aof. @ gh`rjsi`tjg `lm geltrevfrsj`o a`lmof`mfr wjth r`w sfx `ppf`o, Dfo` w`s ` pewfrduo `gtjvjst `lm

    `rcu`aoy @drjg`'s iest pjelffrjlc `lm jldoufltj`o iusjgj`l. Hf jlvfltfm ` lfw iusjg`o cflrf g`oofm @dreaf`t th`t

    ifrcfm Ljcfrj`l hjchojdf iusjg, Zerua` pfrgussjel `lm @ifrjg`l dulk `lm b`zz jlte elf jldfgtjeus creevf.

    Jlbfgtjlc peojtjg`ooy gh`rcfm oyrjgs el tep ed thf iuotj-o`yfrfm rhythis, hjs iusjg afg`if ` g`oo te `ris `c`jlst

    tyr`lly `lm jlbustjgf.

    @ df`rofss gh`ipjel ed thf epprfssfm, Dfo` w`s `ose ` utepj`l vjsjel`ry. Hf prego`jifm hjs geipeulm, whfrf hf

    rfsjmfm wjth hjs fxtflmfm d`ijoy, a`lm i`tfs `lm strfft teuchs, `l jlmfpflmflt l`tjel der thf i`rcjl`ojzfm i`ssfs,drff drei thf o`ws `lm burjsmjgtjel ed thf Ljcfrj`l cevfrliflt. Hf g`oofm thjs geultfrguoturf h`vfl thf K`o`kut`

    (Ww`hjoj der "r`sg`o") Qfpuaojg, l`ifm `dtfr ` prjsel gfoo hf elgf eggupjfmd Dfo`'s d`gf-edds wjth thf cevfrliflt

    turlfm vjeoflt el sfvfr`o egg`sjels; ijojt`ry r`jms ed K`o`kut` jl 0:3= `lm 0:33 mfstreyfm thf geipeulm, arut`ojzfm

    jts jlh`ajt`lts, `lm ofdt Dfo` hespjt`ojzfm `lm jiprjselfm. @l `oofcfm gurrflgy-siuccojlc vjeo`tjel whjof tryjlc te

    ae`rm ` po`lf der hjs 0:8= @ifrjg`l teur ofm te hjs `rrfst `lm jiprjseliflt der evfr fjchtffl ielths.

    Mfspjtf sugh `tt`gks, Dfo` rfi`jlfm ulmftfrrfm jl sprf`mjlc hjs iusjg `lm ifss`cf. Hf rfgermfm ierf th`l sfvflty

    `oauis `lm mfojvfrfm sfvfr`o fofgtrjdyjlc pfrderi`lgfs ` wffk `t hjs ljchtgoua jl O`ces, thf @drjk` Whrjlf. Jt w`s

    let eloy thf hettfst goua wjth thf dulkjfst iusjg jl @drjg`, aut ` po`gf ed peojtjg`o fipewfriflt `lm spjrjtu`o upojdt

    whfrf thf Zerua` Erjsh` (cems) `lm hfrefs ed thf @drjg`l mj`sper` sugh `s I`ogeoi X, Kw`if Lkrui`h, `lm

    Dfo`'s iethfr, Eoudulijo`ye Q`lseif-Kutj, thf of`mfr ed thf Ljcfrj`l l`tjel`o `lm dfijljst ievfiflts, wfrf

    vflfr`tfm.

    @t thf hfjcht ed hjs pepuo`rjty jl thf ijm-0:3>s, Dfo` teek te g`oojlc hjisfod thf "Ao`gk ^rfsjmflt," ` ieljkfr

    werthy ed hjs p`l-@drjg`l `ppf`o `lm peojtjg`o `iajtjels. Shfl hf p`ssfm `w`y `t thf `cf ed djdty-fjcht deooewjlc `

    preoelcfm a`ttof wjth @JMW, ierf th`l ` ijoojel pfepof `ttflmfm hjs pregfssjel`o dulfr`o threuch thf strffts ed

    O`ces. Dfo` h`s sjlgf `ghjfvfm `l jgeljg st`tus th`t sjtu`tfs hji `oelcsjmf sugh geultfr-guotur`o djcurfs `s Aea

    I`rofy `lm Ghf Cufv`r`. Hjs iusjg h`s affl s`ipofm, gevfrfm, `lm p`jm trjautf te ay `l ulafojfv`aof `rr`y ed

    `rtjsts `lm hf js ghfrjshfm ay iusjgj`ls drei ^`uo IgG`rtlfy te Ies Mfd. Mfspjtf thf geltrevfrsjfs surreulmjlc

    hji, le elf g`l mfly hjs ar`vfry jl thf d`gf ed cevfrliflt arut`ojty er thf d`gt th`t hf grf`tfm seif ed thf afst

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    8/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    m`lgf iusjg fvfr rfgermfm. ]em`y Dfo`'s ofc`gy js aeth seafrjlc `lm jlspjr`tjel`o, aut hjs ojdf `lm struccofs `rf `s

    rfofv`lt `s fvfr.

    Ao`gk ^rfsjmflt2 ]hf @rt `lm Ofc`gy ed Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-Kutj js ` grjtjg`o iuotjifmj` fxpoer`tjel ed thf ojdf `lm

    ofc`gy ed Dfo`, `lm thf djrst iusfui fxhjajtjel ed jts kjlm. @oelc wjth o`rcfoy lfw werk drei thjrty-deur

    geltfiper`ry vjsu`o `rtjsts, jt jlgoumfs meguiflt`ry phetecr`phy `lm vjmfe, `lm `l fxtflsjvf fxpoer`tjel jl seulmed Dfo`'s iusjg`o hjstery `lm ofc`gy. ]hf `rtjsts' pfrsel`o jlvfstjc`tjels spf`k te thf werom jl whjgh Dfo` ojvfm `lm

    te thf i`ly sjmfs ed hjs pfrsel`ojty-peojtjg`o mjssjmflt, l`tjvjst spjrjtu`ojst, ul`a`shfm sfx syiaeo, husa`lm te

    twflty-fjcht weifl, utepj`l vjsjel`ry, `lm iusjg`o pjelffr.

    ]hf Jipert ed ` ^estgeoelj`o I`sguojljty

    Mfrfk Wt`levsky, Dfo` `lm Hjs Sjvfs

    ]hus, Dfo` iust af geltjlu`ooy rfgrf`tfm `s thf ijsecyljst l`tjvf prfgjsfoy afg`usf hf geltjlu`ooy thrf`tfls te

    fxgffm thesf aeulm`rjfs. Jl hjs iusjg, jl hjs oyrjgs, jl hjs puaojg pfrsel`, jl hjs ojdf, `lm fvfl jl hjs mf`th, thf

    jtfr`tjels ed thf prf-fxjstjlc sgrjpts ed r`gf `lm sfx `rf rfgeiajlfm `lm rfgjrguo`tfm jl w`ys th`t `ose werk te

    mfst`ajojzf thf aeulm`rjfs `lm ofcjtji`gy ed thfsf rfprfsflt`tjels. ^frh`ps jl thf let tee mjst`lt duturf, elf i`y djlm

    ` pestgeoelj`o i`sguojljty afjlc `rtjguo`tfm jl thf sfrvjgf ed ` r`mjg`o thjrm-werom dfijljsi, geipoftf wjth

    peoycyly, `s ` gh`ooflcf te thf jipojgjt jipfrj`ojsi ed i`ly fxjstjlc Sfstfrl dfijljsis. ]hjs pessjajojty sffis le

    ierf ulojkfoy th`l thf rfgflt tr`lsderi`tjels "quffr" jmfltjtjfs h`vf ulmfrcelf. Jd sugh ` thjlc h`ppfls, Dfo` wjoo

    mfsfrvf seif ed thf grfmjt der prfp`rjlc `lm treuaojlc thf creulm el whjgh duturf jtfr`tjels ed pestgeoelj`oi`sguojljtjfs wjoo t`kf po`gf.

    ]hf Jipert ed ` ^estgeoelj`o I`sguojljty

    Mfrfk Wt`levsky, Dfo` `lm Hjs Sjvfs

    thf rfpojg`tjel `lm fxp`lsjel ed meifstjg rjtu`os.

    @s h`ajtu`o, gfrfielj`o, `lm physjg`o i`ljdfst`tjels ed ` weromvjfw,

    rjtu`os mr`w pfepof tecfthfr

    (Of`gh 0:44).

    ]hreuch rjtu`o,

    afojfds `aeut thf uljvfrsf geif te af `gqujrfm, rfjldergfm,

    `lm fvfltu`ooy gh`lcfm

    (Kfrtzfr 0:882:).

    Qjtu`os h`vf affl usfm ay `oo cevfrliflts te rfjldergf thfjr ofcjtji`gy.M`vjm J. Kfrtzfrs Qjtu`o , eojt jgs, lm ewfr.

    thf g`sf der stumyjlc peojtjg`o rjtu`os `lm te fxpoerf thfjr iest jipert`lt gh`r`gtfrjstjgs.

    Jl 1>0>, sfvfltffl @drjg`l st`tfs gfofar`tfm thfjr djdtjfth jlmfpflmflgf `lljvfrs`ry, heleurjlc thf m`tf whfl thfy

    afg`if jlmfpflmflt drei thfjr derifr geoelj`o i`stfrs. Iest ed thfi mjm se wjth iugh peip `lm p`cf`ltry aut

    `ose `ijmst grjtjg`o rfdofgtjels ed mjs`ppejltfm hepfs `lm duturf gh`ooflcfs. Ethfr geultrjfs, ojkf L`ijaj` `lm

    Rjia`awf, geiifier`tfm twflty er thjrty yf`rs ed jlmfpflmflgf. Ethfrs `w`jtfm thfjr syiaeojg`ooy gh`rcfm

    reulm ajrthm`ys `lm bust i`rkfm thfjr usu`o `llu`o l`tjel`o m`ys.

    G`reo` Ofltz]hf 1>0> jlmfpflmflgf buajoffs2

    "J g`if a`gk heif wjth thf jltflt te gh`lcf thf wheof systfi.

    J mjml't klew J w`s cejlc te h`vf ... sugh herrers! J mjml't klew thfy cell`

    cjvf if sugh eppesjtjel afg`usf ed iy lfw @drjg`ljsi. "

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    9/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    O`r`y Mflzfr jl Dfo` ]hjs Ajtgh ed ` Ojdf,

    ay G`roes Ieerf

    I`mlfss `lm Geoeljz`tjel, Qjgh`rm Kfoofr

    ^syghj`try jl thf Arjtjsh `lm Drflgh Fipjrfs, 08>>-0:41.

    I. B. Djfom, Wf`rgh der Wfgurjty2 `l Fthle-psyghj`trjg stumy ed Qur`o Ch`l` (Oelmel 0:4>). Djfom letfs `l `pp`rflt

    gerrfo`tjel aftwffl ojtfr`gy `lm sghjzephrflj`, aut pejlts eut th`t, wjtheut rfoj`aof djcurfs el thf jlgjmflgf ed

    ojtfr`gy wjthjl `cf-creup, le gof`r gelgousjels g`l af mr`wl2 J weuom ojkf te strfss th`t thjs gerrfo`tjel js, der

    sfvfr`o rf`sels, hjchoy ijsof`mjlc `lm mefs let pejlt te ` gelgousjel th`t sghjzephrflj` js g`usfm ay ojtfr`gy

    (p.708). O`tfr jl thf aeek, whfl mjsgussjlc ghreljg sghjzephrflj`, shf i`kfs thjs pejlt `c`jl, gelgoumjlc th`t

    'ojtfr`tf sghjzephrfljgs `rf ierf gelspjgueus th`l joojtfr`tf, aut let lfgfss`rjoy ierf luifreus' (p.=67). @ sjijo`r

    gelgousjel w`s rf`ghfm ay C. ]eeth, whe `ose werkfm el Ch`l`. Hf mr`ws `ttfltjel te thf d`gt th`t gfrt`jl

    gjrguist`lgfs jl thf ojvfs ed ojtfr`tfs 'geiajlf te i`kf thf ojtfr`tf oul`tjg aeth preijlflt `lm segj`ooy ul`ggfpt`aof

    `lm, let ull`tur`ooy, succfst te thf g`su`o easfrvfr th`t ojtfr`gy js jtsfod ` g`us`o d`gter'. Hf gelgoumfs th`t 'thjs

    survfy prevjmfs le fvjmflgf jl suppert ed thf hypethfsjs th`t psyghesjs js geiielfr jl thf Sfstfrljsfm creup th`l

    jl thf rfst ed thf pepuo`tjel'. C. ]eeth, Wtumjfs jl Iflt`o Joolfss jl thf Ceom Ge`st (Oelmel, 0:6>), gjtfm jl

    G`rethfrs, ]hf @drjg`l Ijlm. ...

    Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-Kutj w`s ` Ljcfrj`l iusjg`o ofcflm `lm hui`l rjchts `gtjvjst. Hjs vjfws `lm fdderts el hui`l

    rjchts wfrf `mijxturf ed pfrsel`o prjlgjpofs `lm segjft`o jldouflgf. @ i`l ed geipofx gh`r`gtfr, Dfo` fxhjajtfm

    thfsf threuch hjs selcs; thf geldojgt aftwffl tr`mjtjel `lm iemfrljsi, jlmjcfleus `lm derfjcl guoturfs `lm thf

    rfsuot`lt fddfgt ed jmfltjty grjsjs jl @drjg`l segjfty. ]hf tyr`lly ed thf i`ssfs ay thf ruojlc go`ss `lm thf `ddouflt

    wfrf thf i`ber thfifs ed hjs selcs. @s ` geur`cfeus fpjteif, Dfo` usfm hjs selcs te fmug`tf `lm flgeur`cf

    epprfssfm @drjg`l pfepof te djcht der thfjr rjchts.

    ]hjs `rtjgof h`s mjsgussfm thf ojdf `lm hui`l rjcht `gtjvjsi ed Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-Kutj ay `meptjlc thf grjtjg`o segje-

    ajecr`phy thfery `s thf gelgfptu`o dr`ifwerk. Hflgf, thf a`gkcreulm `lm thf jldouflgf ed jlmjvjmu`os `lm creups

    po`yfm i`ber reofs el Dfo`s g`rrjfr `lm jl gh`rtjlc jmfeoecjg`o af`rjlc wjth hjs ji`cf gof`roy mjspo`yfm. ]hf `rtjgof

    h`s `ose mjsgussfm thf fddfgts ed geoelj`o ruof jl @drjg`, fgeleijg `lm segje-peojtjg`o epprfssjel jl Ljcfrj` `lm thf

    rfspelsf ed Dfo`s selcs te thfsf.

    ]fbuieo` Eo`ljy`ls aeek fx`ijlfs thf `fsthftjg `lm peojtjg`o mjiflsjels ed Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-Kutjs `dre-af`t, `

    iusjg`o jmjei th`t mr`ws drei iuotjpof styofs ojkf hjchojdf, b`zz, `lm v`rjftjfs ed jlmjcfleus @drjg`l iusjg, `lm

    threuch whjgh Dfo` `mmrfssfm i`ly ed thf gh`ooflcfs th`t afsft thf @drjg`l pestgeoelj`o flvjreliflt.

    Eo`ljy`l `rcufs th`t `dre-af`t, jl jts duoo i`turjty, gelstjtutfm thf mfleufiflt ed Dfo`s tr`lsderi`tjel drei `l

    `peojtjg`o hustofr te `l jmfeoecjg`ooy geiijttfm `rtjst.

    Iusjg`o df`turfs ojkf iuotjo`yfrfm estjl`te p`ttfrls, gerreaer`tjvf pulgtu`tjels ed ar`ss jlstruiflts, seoe-meijl`tfm

    g`oo-rfspelserj`o phr`sfs, `lm thf shffr dergf ed ` i`ssjvf flsfiaof, theuch jljtj`ooy mfvejm ed `ly strelc peojtjg`o

    if`ljlc jl Dfo`s iusjg, weuom o`tfr afgeif af`rfrs ed ` mjssjmflt peojtjg`o jmfeoecy.

    Jl spjtf ed thf go`rjty ed Dfo`s peojtjg`o ifss`cf, hewfvfr, ` sffijlc fofiflt ed `iajv`oflgf pfrv`mfs hjs iusjg.

    ]`kf, der fx`ipof, Dfo`s pfrsjstflt `mveg`gy ed `l `uthfltjg @drjg`l guoturf, `lm j ts lfc`tjel ed thf qujtf

    gelsjmfr`aof jip`gt ed Furepf`l fofiflts el hjs iusjg. Eo`ljy`l fipoeys thf djcurf ed `ltjleiy te flc`cf sughgeltr`mjgtjels, `lm succfsts th`t Dfo`s iusjg js aeth ` syiptei `lm ` rfsjstfr ed ` iemfrljsi th`t js `t elgf

    epprfssjvf `lm flgh`ltjlc. ]hf rfsert te `l joousjel`ry @drjg`l `uthfltjgjty w`s str`tfcjg te Dfo`s `ttfipt te

    geldjcurf ` pretfgtfm sp`gf wjthjl whjgh hf geuom rfgo`ji `l `cflgy th`t hf afojfvfm h`m affl ulmfrijlfm ay

    geoeljz`tjel `lm iemfrljty.

    ]fbuieo` Eo`ljy`l, @rrfst thf Iusjg! Dfo` `lm Hjs Qfafo @rt `lm ^eojtjgs

    @ rfvjfw ay Aemf Eiebeo`, Ieult Heoyekf.

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    10/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    MJFM. DFO@ @LJKV^@OE-KV]J [sjgY, 68, geldrelt`tjel`o d`thfr ed @dre-Af`t; `dtfr suddfrjlc drei @JMW; jl

    O`ces. Do`iaey`lt `lm ul`peoecftjg--hf i`rrjfm 13 weifl jl elf i`ss gfrfiely--Dfo` ojkfm te strut `aeut thf

    st`cf go`m eloy jl arjfds. Hf wjfomfm hjs s`xephelf ojkf ` wf`pel, mjrfgtjlc jt `c`jlst thf Ljcfrj`l cevfrliflt jl

    selcs ojkf T.J.^. (T`c`aelms jl ^ewfr). Hjs geiijtiflt jlveovfm ierf th`l bust `ttjtumf2 hf w`s drfqufltoy`rrfstfm `lm jl 0:8= w`s jiprjselfm.

    "Ijofstelfs" eajtu`ry jl ]jifi`c`zjlf2

    rjtu`o

    `gtjvjsithf g`sf der dfo` kutj

    & ao`gk `drjg`thf pestgeoelj`o geultry `lm pfrsel, thf emms `lm thfjr s`ljty;

    el Kfoofrs I`mlfss `lm Geoeljz`tjel, Ougfres]hf ^eojtjgs ed Qjtu`o.

    Qjtu`o der psyghjg `lm segj`o ul`ljijty `lm wfoolfss.

    Behl Hewf. Dfo` `ljkuo`pe kutj2 @l helfst i`l gh`r`gtfrjstjg ed Dfo`. Hf h`m le jltfrfst jl pfrdfgt phjoesephjg gerrfgtlfss whjgh h`s ` vfry ojijtfm reof jl

    shewajz. @lm, jl `ly g`sf, wh`t wjth elf thjlc `lm `lethfr, geltr`mjgtjels ed ` seiftjifs p`jlduo sert wfrf

    `pp`rflt jl Dfo`s ewl ojdf `lm heusfheom. Weif oyrjgs ` strjlc ed `l`rghjst soec`ls mjrfgtf m `c`jlst ` systfi,

    `lm ` sfrjfs ed rfcjifs, th`t sffifm te cft stf`mjoy ierf vfl`o `lm epprfssjvf threucheut hjs werkjlc ojdf.

    Dfo`s peojtjg`o precr`iif, te thf fxtflt th`t hf h`m elf, w`s pfrpftu`ooy ulmfr gelstrugtjel; hjs peojtjg`o

    bumcfiflt w`s usu`ooy h`sty, edtfl do`wfm, seiftjifs `oiest pfrvfrsf; aut hjs peojtjg`o prfbumjgfs - pre-@drjg`l,pre-ulmfrmec, `ltj-peip `lm `ltj-jlbustjgf - wfrf cflfr`ooy seulm. ]hfy `rf cut dffojlcs sh`rfm ay iest @drjg`ls.

    Shfl Dfo` spekf - `s hf edtfl mjm - jl thf l`if ed @drjg`, hf i`y h`vf affl prebfgtjlc seif ed thf `ttjtumfs ed `

    d`ieus, fggfltrjg, suggfssduo, Sfstfrljzfm, uppfr-go`ss Zerua` `l`rghjst `lm aehfij`l el ` o`rcfoy

    ulgeiprfhflmjlc geltjlflt; aut pfepof `ose ulmfrsteem th`t thf @drjg` hf rfdfrrfm te w`s ` geoeljzfm @drjg` whesf

    prjv`tf hjstery h`m affl mjsruptfm ay eutsjmf dergfs `lm lffmfm te af rfo`ulghfm. ]hjs kl`gk ed afjlc wrelc, aut

    rjcht, flmf`rfm Dfo` te hjs gelstjtuflts, aut `ose puzzofm fvfryelf `lm flr`cfm thf pewfrduo jlmjvjmu`os jipojgjtoy

    grjtjgjzfm, `t thf s`if tjif prevjmjlc thfi wjth `iiuljtjel te usf `c`jlst hji.

    Zerua` weifl `lm thf s`lgtjty ed`ausf

    @lmrfw @ptfr, Mjsgeursf `lm jts mjsgoesurfs.

    der thf 'cr`lmiethfrs' (yfyf) ed thf Ereyfyf dfstjv`o rfgevfr rfprfssfm hjsterjg`o

    ifierjfs `lm myl`stjg go`jis th`t, jl tjifs ed grjsjs, g`l trjccfr segj`o `lm peojtjg`o gh`lcf.

    thf 'g`l`ojsjlc' dulgtjels ed s`lgtjelfm easgfljty `lm `ausf `rf d`r drei h`riofss p`ooj`tjvfs der thesf ulmfr

    `tt`gk. Ler me thfy ifrfoy rfmrfss `ltjsegj`o afh`vjeur, der thf 'cr`lmiethfrs' (yfyf) ed thf Ereyfyf dfstjv`o

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    11/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    rfgevfr rfprfssfm hjsterjg`o ifierjfs `lm myl`stjg go`jis th`t, jl tjifs ed grjsjs, g`l trjccfr segj`o `lm peojtjg`o

    gh`lcf. ]ruf ay mfdjljtjel, Ereyfyf tfxts let eloy gelstjtutf `l fddfgtjvf deri ed peojtjg`o grjtjgjsi-jl elf d`ieus

    g`sf r`ooyjlc thf puaojg te mfpesf `l frr`lt Ea` (kjlc) - aut `ose fst`aojsh ` puaojg `rghjvf ed fvjmflgf der oeg`o

    i`cjstr`tfs `lm hjsterj`ls jl `mmugjlc tfstjiely, gjtjlc prfgfmflts, `lm rfg`oojlc grjtjg`o ieiflts jl @yfmf's

    turauoflt p`st.

    ...Der gfltr`o te Fv`ls-^rjtgh`rm's `rcuiflt w`s thf jlsjcht th`t s`lgtjelfm easgfljtjfs i`mf segj`o sflsf ay

    gh`llfoojlc rfprfssfm mfsjrf `lm 'pflt-up fietjel' (jajm.2 :6) jlte h`riofss 'p`ooj`tjvfs' (jajm.2 0>>) `lm geoofgtjvf

    `gtjvjtjfs th`t wfrf cflfr`ooy (aut let fxgousjvfoy) s`lgtjdjfm ay gfrfielj`o.

    thfsf selcs wjthjl ` v`rjfty ed shjdtjlc geltfxts, r`lcjlc drei thf spfgjdjg segj`o prebfgt ed thf dfstjv`o jtsfod-

    whjgh js te estr`gjsf thjfvfs `lm stjci`tjsf 'fvjomefrs'-te thf sfxu`o, segje-peojtjg`o `lm hjsterjg`o 'sua-tfxts' whjgh,

    whfl vejgfm, `ggeult der jts mffpfr if`ljlcs `lm rjtu`o pewfr. Jl se mejlc, J hepf te ce afyelm g`leljg`o `ggeults

    ed hew rjtu`ojsfm estr`gjsi upheoms cflfr`o leris ed segj`ajojty

    Ijgh`fo F. Tf`o, Dfo`2

    ]hf Ojdf `lm ]jifs ed `l @drjg`l Iusjg`o Jgel

    @ rfvjfw ay W`zj Mj`ijljL`tjvjsi jl pestgeoelj`o guotur`o premugtjel js let ` rfbfgtjel ed thf flgeultfr wjth Furepf er ed iemfrljty `s sugh;

    jt mefs let df`r epfllfss, `lm hyarjmjty js let `ojfl te jt. Sh`t jt o`iflts js thf "dergfm lfgfssjty"0> ed thf l`tjvf te

    g`pjtuo`tf, `ppreprj`tf, er aerrew2 ` gh`r`gtfrjstjg gelmj5 tjel ed g`pjt`ojst iemfrljty th`t ruofs eut fqu`ojty jl

    `mv`lgf. Dfo`'s l`tjvjsi js let `l `t`vjstjg rfturl te reets aut ` rfgo`jijlc ed "`uthfltjg suabfgtjvjty"2 ` suabfgtjvjty

    th`t fxprfssfs, th`t js, suabfgts, jtsfod "drffoy" wjtheut thf fofiflt ed ` grumfoy eavjeus geipuosjel; thf pewfr `lm

    `uteleiy ed @drjg` te sfod-mjrfgt jtsfod `lm jts po`gf jl thf werom.

    @rrfst thf Iusjg! ]fbuieo` Eo`ljy`l

    Dfo` `lm Hjs Qfafo @rt `lm ^eojtjgs

    Wff `ose Ofdfavrf's usfduo stumy (048-178). 1. @s jl i`ly ethfr `rf`s ed geltfiper`ry @drjg`l jltfoofgtu`o

    premugtjel jl whjgh jt `ppf`rs, "l`tjvjsi," suppesfmoy thf go`iereus 'rfturl-te-reets' rf`d- djri`tjel ed l`tjvf,

    jlmjcfleus tr`mjtjels `c`jlst ` stjdojlc flgre`ghiflt ay thf derfjcl, h`s ` vfry fo`stjg gh`r`gtfr. L`tjvjsi hfrf h`sstr`lcfoy rfdusfm te af aeulm ay jts gelgfptu`o "trja`o" er fthljg mfojijt`tjel, `lm h`s affl ul`peoecftjg`ooy

    tr`lsl`tjel`o, geltjlflt`o. Jl ethfr werms, l`tjvjsi jl @drjg`l mjsgeursfs r`rfoy spf`ks se iugh jl thf l`if ed thjs

    er th`t fthljg guoturf `s ed @drjg`l guoturfs cflfr`ooy. Ermjl`rjoy, sugh tr`lsl`tjel`ojsi g`l h`rmoy af mfsgrjafm `s

    "l`tjvjst"; th`t js, jt cflfr`ooy js lew ` tfst`iflt te thf pewfr `lm `ajojty ed Furepf`l r`gj`ojsi te ghf`pfl `lm

    sjipojdy geipofxjty jl jts ewl jltfrfst.

    Wff, der jlst`lgf, Hewf's usfduo `l`oysjs2 "Shfl Dfo` spekf `s hf edtfl mjm jl thf l`if ed '@drjg`', hf i`y h`vf

    affl prebfgtjlc seif ed thf `ttjtumfs ed ` d`ieus, fggfltrjg, suggfssduo, Sfstfrljzfm, uppfr-go`ss Zerua` `l`rghjst

    `lm aehfij`l el ` o`rcfoy ulgeiprfhflmjlc geltjlflt; aut pfepof ulmfrsteem th`t thf @drjg` hf rfdfrrfm te w`s `

    geoeljzfm @drjg` whesf prjv`tf hjstery h`m affl mjsruptfm ay eutsjmf dergfs `lm lffmfm te af rfo`ulghfm. ]hjs

    kl`gk ed afjlc wrelc, aut rjcht, flmf`rfm Dfo` te hjs gelstjtuflts. . . ." (07>; fiph`sjs `mmfm). ]hjs js wh`t K`ro

    I`rx if`ls jl elf ed hjs foequflt gh`r`gtfrjz`tjels ed g`pjt`ojst iemfrljty2 Jt geipfos `oo l`tjels, el thf p`jl ed

    fxtjlgtjel, te `mept thf aeurcfejs iemf ed premugtjel; jt geipfos thfi te jltremugf wh`t jt g`oos gjvjojz`tjel jltethfjr ijmst, j.f., te afgeif aeurcfejs thfisfovfs. Jl elf werm, jt grf`tfs ` werom `dtfr jts ewl ji`cf" (8=).

    Zft wjthjl thjs uljvfrs`ojty, thf jlhfrflt iuotjpojgjty ed rjtu`o pr`gtjgfs,

    aeth aftwffl `lm wjthjl guoturfs, `ose rfdofgts thf duoo mjvfrsjty ed thf hui`l fxpfrjflgf.

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    12/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    Qjtu`o, Kfvjl G`rrjge

    Elojlf beurl`o, Guotur`o @lthrepeoecy

    Qfojcjeus Ievfiflts `lm ^eojtjgs jl Wua-W`h`r`l @drjg`

    ]frflgf E. Q`lcfr

    Drei th`t pfrspfgtjvf jt i`y wfoo af th`t lewhfrf js thfrf ierf t`ok `aeut gh`lcf th`l jl @drjg`. Zft, wjthjl @drjg`,dfw g`l rf`ooy trjccfr gh`lcf. Hfrfjl ojfs thf crf`t `cely ed @drjg`'s pepuo`r sfltjiflts.... ]e mfsgrjaf pfepof's

    ievfiflts jl @drjg` jt js lfgfss`ry te rfgecljsf thfjr ulmfr-oyjlc `ttjtumf, whjgh js elf ed `gtjvf w`jtjlc `lm `gtjvf

    hepf.... ]e eutojvf thf rfprfssjel, jl jts v`rjeus deris, js te c`jl vjgtery.

    Ojs` B. Ougfre, ]hf ^eojtjgs ed Qjtu`o2

    ]hf Fifrcflgf ed Go`ssjg I`y` Quofrs.

    Fifrcjlc of`mfrs i`y rfpojg`tf `lm fxp`lm tr`mjtjel`o rjtu`os te jltfcr`tf jlgrf`sjlcoy o`rcfr luiafrs ed pfepof,

    `mv`lgf peojtjg`o `cflm`s, `lm sjtu`tf peojtjg`o gh`lcf wjthjl klewl guotur`o gelstrugts. Qjtu`o fvflts fl`aof thfi

    let eloy te preietf surpous premugtjel aut, ierf sjcljdjg`lt, te `ppreprj`tf jt `lm surpous dulms `l fxp`lmjlc

    peojtjg`o fgeleiy `s wfoo `s gfrfieljfs `lm ethfr puaojg fvflts.

    @ Grjtjg`o Oeek `t Jlmjgfs Vsfm jl thf Wtumy ed Wegj`o Gh`lcf jl Geoelj`o @drjg`

    Afrl`rm I`cua`lf

    Srjtfs Iph`hofof (0:432 74-73)2 J h`vf `ssjijo`tfm thf fmug`tjel eloy thf Sfst h`m te eddfr if. J w`s areucht up

    el Furepf`l hjstery `lm ojtfr`turf `lm rfojcjel `lm i`mf te jmfltjdy wjth Furepf`l hfrefs whjof @drjg`l hfrefs

    wfrf afjlc mjsgrfmjtfm, fxgfpt thesf th`t afg`if Ghrjstj`ls er sjclfm `w`y thfjr o`lm `lm drffmei; whjof @drjg`l

    cems wfrf afjlc siekfm eut. ]hf styof ed `l`oysjs usfm jl thfsf stumjfs h`s `gtfm, peojtjg`ooy `s wfoo `s

    segjeoecjg`ooy, `s ` pewfrduo iystjdjg`tjel ed thf rf`o segj`o dergfs `t werk. Jt wjoo af shewl o`tfr jl thjs p`pfr th`t

    thf pessjajojty ed peojtjg`o `gtjel ay @drjg`ls te gh`lcf thf st`tus que h`s affl mfljfm jipojgjtoy ay thf w`y jl

    whjgh segj`o gh`lcf h`s affl gelgfptu`ojzfm. ]hfsf stumjfs `rf ` a`m fx`ipof ed wh`t Ijoos (0:402 6=) g`oos

    `astr`gtfm fipjrjgjsi2 Jlsed`r `s stumjfs ed str`tjdjg`tjel h`vf affl melf jl thf lfw styof, le lfw gelgfptjels h`vf

    `rjsfl.

    I`zj Ekere Ebj`ku,

    Furepf`l trja`ojsi `lm @drjg`l l`tjel`ojsi

    ]e thf mfcrff th`t hf fiaemjfs aeth thfsf v`ryjlc leris, hf werks wjthjl twe sfts ed syiaeos `t thf s`if

    tjif, wjth rfsuot`lt mjsh`riely `lm jlgelsjstflgy jl hjs segj`o pfrsel`ojty. ]hjs `ose of`ms te drfquflt

    geldojgt aftwffl pfrsels; elf's afh`vjeur js qujgkoy sffl ay ethfrs `s mfvj`lt.

    Sh`t js p`rtjguo`roy uljquf `aeut thf segjfty jl cflfr`o `lm thf gjty jl p`rtjguo`r, js thf d`gt th`t thf jlmjvjmu`o af`rs

    wjthjl hjisfod twe tet`ooy mjddfrflt `lm jlv`rj`aoy jlgeip`tjaof v`oufs `lm afojfds 2 @s ` ifiafr ed thf tr`mjtjel`o

    segjfty hf af`rs wjth hji thf leris `lm v`oufs ed hjs segjfty; `s elf `ose fxpesfm te thf v`oufs ed thf Sfst, hf

    g`rrjfs thf aurf`ugr`tjg v`oufs fiph`sjzfm ay thf geoeljsfr. ]e thf mfcrff th`t hf fiaemjfs aeth thfsf v`ryjlc

    leris, hf werks wjthjl twe sfts ed syiaeos `t thf s`if tjif, wjth rfsuot`lt mjsh`riely `lm jlgelsjstflgy jl hjs

    segj`o pfrsel`ojty. ]hjs `ose of`ms te drfquflt geldojgt aftwffl pfrsels; elf's afh`vjeur js qujgkoy sffl ay ethfrs `smfvj`lt. @s wjth thf jlmjvjmu`o se wjth thf gjty, whjgh afg`usf jt gelt`jls aeth thf tr`mjtjel`o `s wfoo `s wfstfrl

    st`lm`rms ed v`ouf `lm pr`gtjgf, `ose fiaemjfs geldojgt `lm mjsh`riely. ]hjs geldojgt i`ljdfsts jtsfod tem`y jl

    tr`mjtjel`o l`tjel`ojsi, `s rfdofgtfm jl thf deri`tjel ed thf v`rjeus kjlms ed erc`ljz`tjels wjth ` strelc tjlcf ed

    tr`mjtjel`ojsi, jl thf lfw ura`l gfltfrs.

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    13/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    Afoo's Qjtu`o ]hfery, Qjtu`o ^r`gtjgf

    [QYjtu`o h`s sjiuot`lfeusoy afgeif `l eabfgt, ` ifthem, `lm fvfl seifthjlc ed ` styof ed sgheo`rshjp el thf

    @ifrjg`l `g`mfijg sgflf.Weif thferjsts h`vf trjfm te aujom el `lm jiprevf pfrderi`lgf thfery, aut thfy

    `rf stjoo vuolfr`aof te grjtjqufs, sugh `s thf d`gt th`t seiftjifs rjtu`o jslt ` pfrderi`lgf aut js jltflmfm te

    g`usf gh`lcf jl thf eutsjmf werom (=7)

    Qjtu`o cjvfs sh`pf `lm if`ljlc te segjfty `lm guoturf.

    Mr. Afoos geltrjautjel te thf djfom ed rjtu`o stumjfs dercfm ` lfw dr`ifwerk der mfdjljlc rjtu`o `s ` sjtu`tjel`o `lm

    str`tfcjg `gtjvjty hfr dulm`iflt`o rf-ji`cjljlc ed thf l`turf `lm dulgtjel ed rjtu`ojz`tjel - thf tfri Afoo

    prfdfrrfm whfl spf`kjlc ed rjtu`o `s ` deri ed prjvjofcfm `gtjel - derfvfr `otfrfm eur gelgfptjel ed thf sjipof

    mjgheteijfs ed afojfd `lm afh`vjer, thf jlmjvjmu`o `lm thf geoofgtjvf, thf s`grfm `lm thf pred`lf.

    Qfz` @so`l el G`thfrjlf Afoos Qjtu`o2 ^frspfgtjvfs `lm Mjiflsjels.

    ]hf Wflsf ed Qjtu`o thf prji`gy ed thf segj`o `gt jtsfod, hew jts str`tfcjfs `rf oemcfm jl thf vfry mejlc ed

    thf `gt, `lm hew rjtu`ojz`tjel js ` str`tfcjg w`y ed `gtjlc jl spfgjdjg segj`o sjtu`tjels. ]hf dr`ifwerk ed

    rjtu`ojz`tjel g`sts ` lfw ojcht el thf purpesf ed rjtu`o `gtjvjty, jts segj`o fddjg`gy, `lm jts fiaemjiflt jl

    geipofx tr`mjtjels `lm systfis.

    Qjtu`o klewofmcf afg`if let seifthjlc fxtfrl`o te mejlc er afjlc,

    aut r`thfr '` i`ttfr ed p`rtjgjp`tjel jl thf elcejlc mr`i` ed thf werom' (B`gksel 0:8:, 06).

    Qjgh`rm G. B`lkewsky, ]hf Aemy jl ^frderi`lgf,

    Iusjg, Wpjrjt ^essfssjel `lm thf Jl-Aftwffl

    Qjtu`o2 ^frspfgtjvfs `lm Mjiflsjels2

    G`thfrjlf Afoo

    rjtu`o `s tr`mjtjel`o, geoofgtjvf rfprfsflt`tjel, jipoyjlc th`t thf letjel ed jlmjvjmu`o

    er jlvfltfm rjtu`o w`s ` geltr`mjgtjel jl tfris.

    ]hf tflmflgy te thjlk ed rjtu`o `s fssfltj`ooy ulgh`lcjlc h`s celf h`lm jl h`lm wjth thf fqu`ooy geiiel

    `ssuiptjel th`t fddfgtjvf rjtu`os g`llet af jlvfltfm. Vltjo vfry rfgfltoy, iest pfepofs geiielsflsf letjel ed

    rjtu`o if`lt th`t seifelf geuom let sjipoy mrf`i up ` rjtf th`t weuom werk thf w`y tr`mjtjel`o rjtu`o h`s werkfm.

    Wugh ` phfleiflel, jd jt geuom h`ppfl, weuom sffi te ulmfrijlf thf jipert`lt reofs cjvfl te geiiuljty, gustei,

    `lm gelsflsus jl eur ulmfrst`lmjlc ed rfojcjel `lm rjtu`o.

    ]hf dulm`iflt`o fddjg`gy ed rjtu`o `gtjvjty

    ojfs jl jts `ajojty te h`vf pfepof fiaemy `ssuiptjels `aeut thfjr po`gf jl ` o`rcfr

    ermfr ed thjlcs.

    ]hjs lfw rjtu`o p`r`mjci h`s ierf suatof r`ijdjg`tjels `s wfoo. ]r`mjtjel`ooy, der fx`ipof, thf ofcjtji`tf `utherjty

    `lm fddjg`gy ed rjtu`o wfrf goesfoy jltfrtwjlfm. Der jlvfltfm rjtfs, whjgh `rf let mffpoy reetfm jl `ly sh`rfm sflsf ed

    tr`mjtjel, hewfvfr, ofcjtji`gy `lm `utherjty tflm te af gelstrufm ierf ojchtoy `lm el qujtf mjddfrflt creulms. Der

    th`t rf`sel, pfrh`ps, iugh crf`tfr wfjcht `ppf`rs te d`oo el thf mjiflsjel ed fddjg`gy. ]hfrf js jlgrf`sfm prfssurf

    der thf jlvfltfm rjtf te shew th`t jt werks; thjs js wh`t ofcjtji`tfs thf rjtf sjlgf thfrf js le tr`mjtjel te me thjs.

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    14/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    Ed geursf, thf fxpfgt`tjels ed wh`t jt if`ls te werk `rf `ose let thf s`if `s der tr`mjtjel`o rjtu`os, der whjgh le elf

    `skfm whfthfr thf rjtf werkfm, bust whfthfr jt w`s melf gerrfgtoy. Jl seif segjftjfs `lm gesieoecjfs, gerrfgt

    pfrderi`lgf ed ` rjtu`o i`mf jt fddfgtjvf whfthfr yeu w`ltfm jt te af er let.

    Qjtu`o, `ltj-strugturf, `lm rfojcjel, I`thjfu Mfdofi@ mjsgussjel ed Tjgter ]urlfr's pregfssu`o syiaeojg `l`oysjs

    @oo rjtu`os, jt sffis, `rf jl ]urlfr's pfrspfgtjvf rfojcjeus; thfy `oo "gfofar`tf er geiifier`tf tr`lsgflmflt pewfrs"

    (T. ]urlfr `lm F. ]urlfr 0:8121>0). Wtjoo, ]urlfr mjm vjfw rjtu`os jl iemfrl jlmustrj`o segjfty `s h`vjlc seif

    gh`r`gtfrjstjgs mjddfrflt drei thf trja`o rjtu`os hf stumjfm jl Lmfiau segjfty. Jl trja`o segjftjfs "`oo ojdf js pfrv`mfm

    ay jlvjsjaof jldouflgfs" (]urlfr 0:34`26>3). Jl thjs w`y, trja`o segjftjfs `rf wheooy rfojcjeus, `lm rjtu`o `gtjels

    surreulmjlc thfjr rfojcjels `rf "l`tjelwjmf"; thfy `rf erjfltfm tew`rms "`oo ifiafrs ed thf wjmfst fddfgtjvf

    geiiuljty" (]urlfr 0:33a2=6). Jl iemfrl segjftjfs, el thf ethfr h`lm, rfojcjel js "rfc`rmfm `s seifthjlc

    `p`rt drei eur fgeleijg, peojtjg`o, meifstjg `lm rfgrf`tjel`o ojdf.

    Qjtu`o, `ltj-strugturf, `lm rfojcjel, I`thjfu Mfdofi

    Qjtu`o ay Kfvjl G`rrjgeZft wjthjl thjs uljvfrs`ojty, thf jlhfrflt iuotjpojgjty ed rjtu`o pr`gtjgfs,

    aeth aftwffl `lm wjthjl guoturfs, `ose rfdofgts thf duoo mjvfrsjty ed thf hui`l fxpfrjflgf.

    Hew mefs rjtu`o dr`if eur segj`o fxpfrjflgfs5

    Sh`t `rf thf rfo`tjelshjps aftwffl rjtu`o syiaeos

    `gress segj`o djfoms5 She fxfrgjsfs geltreo jl rjtu`os;

    er me rjtu`os fxfrgjsf geltreo upel thfjr `gters5

    Qjtu`o js `rcu`aoy ` uljvfrs`o df`turf ed hui`l segj`o fxjstflgf2 bust `s elf g`llet flvjsjel ` segjfty wjtheut

    o`lcu`cf er fxgh`lcf, elf weuom af fqu`ooy h`rm-prfssfm te ji`cjlf ` segjfty wjtheut rjtu`o. @lm whjof thf werm

    rjtu`o geiieloy arjlcs te ijlm fxetjgjzfm ji`cfs ed prjijtjvf ethfrs mjojcfltoy flc`cfm jl iystjg`o `gtjvjtjfs,

    elf g`l djlm rjtu`os, aeth s`grfm `lm sfguo`r, threucheut iemfrl segjfty2 geoofgtjvf fxpfrjflgfs, drei thf

    Eoyipjgs te thf geiifier`tjel ed l`tjel`o tr`cfmjfs; gygojg`o c`thfrjlcs, drei wffkoy gelcrfc`tjels `t thf oeg`oghurgh te thf `llu`o turkfy g`rvjlc `t ]h`lkscjvjlc te thf jltexjg`tjel ed I`rmj Cr`s; `lm pfrsel`o ojdf-p`ttfrls,

    drei ierljlc creeijlc reutjlfs te thf w`ys jl whjgh wf crfft `lm jltfr`gt wjth elf `lethfr. Qjtu`o js jl d`gt `l

    jlfvjt`aof geipelflt ed guoturf, fxtflmjlc drei thf o`rcfst-sg`of segj`o `lm peojtjg`o pregfssfs te thf iest jltji`tf

    `spfgts ed eur sfod-fxpfrjflgf. Zft wjthjl thjs uljvfrs`ojty, thf jlhfrflt iuotjpojgjty ed rjtu`o pr`gtjgfs, aeth aftwffl

    `lm wjthjl guoturfs, `ose rfdofgts thf duoo mjvfrsjty ed thf hui`l fxpfrjflgf. Jt w`s thfl lfjthfr purf gejlgjmflgf ler

    prjijtjvjst fxetjgjz`tjel th`t po`gfm rjtu`o `t thf gfltfr ed thf mfvfoepiflt ed `lthrepeoecjg`o theucht2 jt w`s jlstf`m

    rjtu`os rjgh petfltj`o jlsjchts `s `l eabfgt ed segjeguotur`o `l`oysjs.

    M`lly K`po`l ]hf Welcs ed thf Wjrfl2 Flcjlffrjlc L`tjel`o ]jif el Jsr`foj Q`mje,

    thf reof ed iusjg r`mje jl sh`pjlc geoofgtjvf fxpfrjflgf `lm l`tjel`o sfltjiflt.^`rtjguo`roy `t tjifs ed l`tjel`o geiifier`tjel er fifrcflgy, K`po`l `rcufs th`t Jsr`foj mjsg begkfys mr`w upel `

    geiiel h`ajtus te premugf ` uljdjfm iusjg`o `tiesphfrf whjgh flcjlffrs l`tjel`o ieem shjdts, `t elgf po`yjlc `

    gfltr`o reof jl mftfrijljlc thf jipert`lgf ed fvflts wjthjl puaojg gelsgjeuslfss, whjof `ose `ddjrijlc l`tjel`o

    jmfltjty threuch thf gelstrugtjel ed geoofgtjvf fxpfrjflgf. K`po`ls g`sf let eloy mr`ws `ttfltjel te thf fxp`lsjel ed

    rjtu`ojstjg geoofgtjvf fxpfrjflgfs afyelm oeg`o `umjflgfs threuch thf mfvfoepiflt ed iemfrl i`ss ifmj`, aut `ose

    hjchojchts thf fssfltj`o reof ed rjtu`o jl thf premugtjel `lm rfpremugtjel ed thf iemfrl l`tjel-st`tf.

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    15/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    Qjtu`o klewofmcf afg`if let seifthjlc fxtfrl`o te mejlc er afjlc,

    aut r`thfr '` i`ttfr ed p`rtjgjp`tjel jl thf elcejlc mr`i` ed thf werom' (B`gksel 0:8:, 06).

    Behl Ao`gkjlc flc`cfm jl ` sjijo`r sf`rgh der if`ljlc r`thfr th`l fxpo`l`tjel

    `ielc thf Tflm`, drei whei hf of`rlfm th`t iusjg, whfl pfrderifm wfoo, jl thf prepfr geltfxt `lm

    der thf rjcht pfrsel, fl`aofs ` m`lgfr te 'geif d`gf te d`gf wjth hfr/hjs ethfr sfod,

    thf rf`o sfod ed thf `lgfster spjrjt' (0:86, 43)

    Qjgh`rm G. B`lkewsky, ]hf Aemy jl ^frderi`lgf,

    Iusjg, Wpjrjt ^essfssjel `lm thf Jl-Aftwffl

    Qjtu`o `lm Iytheoecjg`o Qfgupfr`tjel jl thf Mr`i` ed Fsj`a` Jreaj

    Jsjmerf Mj`o Qfgrf`tjlc jl tfris ed geltfiper`ry fxpfrjflgf sjtu`tjels jl whjgh rjtu`o h`m gecflgy, `lm trf`tjlc iyths `s

    i`oof`aof l`rr`tjvfs g`p`aof ed `utherjzjlc `l jmfeoecjg`o pesjtjel, hjs `ttfipts `t thf fxp`lsjel ed Jcae rjtu`o jlte

    geltfiper`ry (Ljcfrj`l) ojdf `rf sjcljdjg`ltoy i`rkfm ay ` mffp afojfd jl thf rfojcjeus fddjg`gy ed rjtu`o. Jreaj's

    thf`tfr js stjoo ` heusf ed d`jth jl whjgh thf gfrfiely ed mr`i` mefs let eloy prevjmf spfgt`gof `lm fltfrt`jlifltaut js `ose `jifm `t rfseovjlc pr`gtjg`o preaofis jl segjfty2 `l jmfeoecjg`o rfseoutjel ed thf peojtjg`o jip`ssf th`t h`s

    gh`r`gtfrjzfm thf pest-geoelj`o st`tf.

    Jl rf`ojty, hf guotjv`tfs `lm h`rlfssfs thf `lgjflt petflgy `sgrjafm te rjtu`o te `uthfltjg`tf ` lfw sfguo`r vjsjel. Hjs

    fxp`lsjel ed rjtu`o jlte ojdf `lm cjvjlc ed ` sfguo`r a`sf te th`t ojdf js jlmffm i`rkfm ay `l jgelego`stjg prebfgtjel ed

    tr`mjtjel`o Jcae p`r`mjcis te d`gjojt`tf sfguo`r prebfgts. Jreaj js easfssfm ay thf pessjajojty ed thf rfcflfr`tjel ed `

    segjfty o`aerjlc ulmfr thf aurmfl ed cujot.

    Qjgh`rm G. B`lkewsky, ]hf Aemy jl ^frderi`lgf,

    Iusjg, Wpjrjt ^essfssjel `lm thf Jl-AftwfflJl ^ewfr `lm ^frderi`lgf, Beh`llfs D`aj`l g`oos `ttfltjel te thf v`ouf ed `tt`jljlc pr`g tjg`o `s eppesfm te ifrfoy

    mjsgursjvf klewofmcf threuch pfrderijlc wjth ethfrs. ]hjs klewofmcf js fiaemjfm jl ievfiflts, cfsturfs `lm

    jltfr`gtjels. Goesfoy `oojfm wjth thf fthes ed r`mjg`o fipjrjgjsi (`lm `ptoy prfsfltfm jl iusjg`o tfris), hf mfsgrjafsthjs kjlm ed flc`cfiflt `s ` sjtu`tjel jl whjgh 'thf fthlecr`phfr mefs let g`oo thf tulf, aut po`ys `oelc' (0::>, 08).

    Jl thf geltfxt ed st`iafoj rjtu`o, 'po`yjlc `oelc,' jl jts ojtfr`o sflsf, if`lt sylghreljzjlc iy sjlcjlc `lm shq5shjq

    po`yjlc wjth thf rfst ed thf sull5', deooewjlc thf edtfl suatof gufs ed thf yjll`, mjrfgtjlc eur iusjg`o flfrcjfs

    tew`rms thf tr`lgf m`lgfr `lm hfr pessfssjlc spjrjt, `lm fltfrt`jljlc `l `umjflgf. ]hfsf iuotjpof `lm sjiuot`lfeus

    jltfr`gtjels, `ggermjlc te ]hei`s B. Gserm`s, `rf usfduooy gelstrufm `s 'sei`tjg iemfs ed `ttfltjel', whjgh `rf

    'guotur`ooy fo`aer`tfm w`ys ed `ttflmjlc te `lm wjth elf's aemy jl surreulmjlcs th`t jlgoumf thf fiaemjfm prfsflgf

    ed ethfrs' (1>>1, 1==). Jl thf hf`t ed ` st`iafoj pfrderi`lgf, iy aemjoy fxpfrjflgf w`s iuotjo`yfrfm. Qjtu`o

    klewofmcf afg`if let seifthjlc fxtfrl`o te mejlc er afjlc, aut r`thfr '` i`ttfr ed p`rtjgjp`tjel jl thf elcejlc

    mr`i` ed thf werom' (B`gksel 0:8:, 06).

    @drjg`l Qjtu`os ed Geldojgt, Fmw`rm Lerafgk

    Cougki`l's wrjtjlcs el gusteis ed @drjg`l pfepofs `rf `ielc thf f`rojfst `lthrepeoecjg`o werks th`t prfsflt

    hypethfsfs gelgfrljlc segj`ooy jltfcr`tjvf fddfgts ed fxprfssjels ed geldojgt. Cougki`l's grjtjgjsi (0:=:`2 0>) ed

    I`ojlew-skj der hjs "rfdus`o te sff geldojgt `s ` iemf ed jltfcr`tjlc creups `lm te rfgec-ljzf th`t hestjojty aftwffl

    creups js ` deri ed segj`o a`o`lgf" js pfrh`ps thf djrst fxpojgjt fxprfssjel ed thjs pejlt ed vjfw ay `l `lthrepoecjst.

    Cougki`l's jltfrprft`tjels `rf ulusu`o jl `lethfr rfspfgt.

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    16/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    ]hf Jipert ed ` ^estgeoelj`o I`sguojljty

    Mfrfk Wt`levsky, Dfo` `lm Hjs SjvfsHewfvfr, jd g`pturjlc `l ji`cjlfm, oest @drjg`l purjty js let thf ce`o, thfl pfrh`ps Dfo` js ` vfry ceem ghejgf `s `

    rfprfsflt`tjvf ed @drjg`l iusjg. Hjs iusjg js ` premugt ed @drjg`'s geoelj`o `lm pestgeoelj`o hjstery `lm `s sughrfprfsflts thf prfsflt rf`ojtjfs ed @drjg`. Sh`t Dfo` o`gks jl purjty ed l`tjvf `uthfltjgjty, hf ierf th`l i`kfs up der

    jl rjghlfss ed pestgeoelj`o dusjel. Der Dfo`, thf jmfltjty ed "@drjg`l" h`s ` usf jl hjs p`l-@drjg`l peojtjgs der

    aujomjlc seojm`rjty `gress l`tjel`o aeulm`rjfs `lm `gress ojlcujstjg `lm guotur`o a`rrjfrs jl `l fddert te aujom `l

    jltfrl`tjel`o peojtjg`o ievfiflt.

    Jl ]jifi`c`zjlf, thf fpjthft ed "@drjg`l" sfrvfs ierf te heiecfljzf `lm easgurf thf rf`o mjddfrflgfs `ielc

    @drjg`ls drei thf c`zf ed Sfstfrl fyfs, `lm grf`tfs `l ji`cjlfm, `oiest iythjg, sp`gf g`oofm "@drjg`" whjgh `gts `s

    ` rfpesjtery der ` hest ed Sfstfrl df`rs `lm mfsjrfs. Jl elf g`sf thf ce`o js te evfrgeif mjddfrflgfs; jl thf ethfr jt js

    te mfly thf fxjstflgf ed thesf mjddfrflgfs.

    ]hf tfxt ed thf arjfd "Ijofstelfs" eajtu`ry jl ]jifi`c`zjlf rf`ms jl jts fltjrfty2

    MJFM. DFO@ @LJKV^@OE-KV]J [sjgY, 68, geldrelt`tjel`o d`thfr ed @dre-Af`t; `dtfr suddfrjlc drei @JMW; jl

    O`ces. Do`iaey`lt `lm ul`peoecftjg--hf i`rrjfm 13 weifl jl elf i`ss gfrfiely--Dfo` ojkfm te strut `aeut thfst`cf go`m eloy jl arjfds. Hf wjfomfm hjs s`xephelf ojkf ` wf`pel, mjrfgtjlc jt `c`jlst thf Ljcfrj`l cevfrliflt jl

    selcs ojkf T.J.^. (T`c`aelms jl ^ewfr). Hjs geiijtiflt jlveovfm ierf th`l bust `ttjtumf2 hf w`s drfqufltoy

    `rrfstfm `lm jl 0:8= w`s jiprjselfm.

    @oo ed thjs jipojfs th`t thf suabfgt l`ifm Dfo` Kutj geuom let h`vf eggupjfm hjs guotur`o ljghf jl thf Sfst `s `

    r`mjg`o, thjrm-werom guotur`o djcurf wjtheut eggupyjlc jt threuch thf jtfr`tjel ed sgrjpts `orf`my af`rjlc thf i`rks ed

    Sfstfrl r`gjsi `lm sfxjsi. @s w`s shewl jl thf prfgfmjlc sfgtjel, thfrf js le lfgfss`ry gellfgtjel aftwffl Dfo`'s

    @drjg`l jmfltjty `lm hjs ijsecyly. Hewfvfr, whfl vjfwfm drei thf v`lt`cf pejlt ed wh`t ijcht af lfgfss`ry te

    suggfssduooy jipert Dfo` der gelsuiptjel jl thf Sfst, thfl jt afcjls te sffi aeth lfgfss`ry, `lm fvfl prfmjgt`aof,

    th`t fvflts jl hjs ojdf af ojlkfm jl w`ys th`t djt Sfstfrl fxpfgt`tjels. ]hus, hjs i`sguojljty, hjs peojtjgs `lm hjs

    iusjg `rf `oo g`st jl tfris ed rfpftjtjels ed guotur`o leris th`t sfgurf hjs seucht-`dtfr l`tjvf `uthfltjgjty whjof

    sjiuot`lfeusoy rflmfrjlc thfi s`df der Sfstfrl gelsuiptjel. ]hjs s`dfty js jlsurfm threuch thf st`cjlc ed hjs

    i`sguojljty jl tfris d`ijoj`r te Sfstfrl `umjflgfs, `s peojtjg`ooy r`mjg`o `lm m`lcfreusoy sfxu`o, aut d`t`ooy do`wfmay a`gkw`rms trja`o vjfws el thf jldfrjerjty ed weifl. Hjs peojtjgs `rf r`mjg`o, aut le ierf se th`l thf 0:4>s

    Afrkfofy peojtjgs el whjgh thfy `rf p`ttfrlfm.

    ]hf Jipert ed ` ^estgeoelj`o I`sguojljty

    Mfrfk Wt`levsky, Dfo` `lm Hjs Sjvfs

    Zerua` weifl `lm thf s`lgtjty ed`ausf

    @lmrfw @ptfr, Mjsgeursf `lm jts mjsgoesurfs.

    Jt js let ulgeiiel der thesf whe ojvf `ielcst prjijtjvf pfepofs te geif `gress 'easgfljty' jl spffgh `lm `gtjel.

    ]hjs 'easgfljty' js edtfl let `l fxprfssjel ay `l jlmjvjmu`o uttfrfm ulmfr crf`t strfss `lm gelmfilfm `s a`m t`stf,

    aut js `l fxprfssjel ay ` creup ed pfrsels `lm js pfrijttfm `lm fvfl prfsgrjafm ay segjfty. [Fv`ls-^rjtgh`rm,0:462

    34Y ]hus epfls `l f`roy fss`y ay F. F. Fv`ls-^rjtgh`rm, fxgfrptfm drei hjs ^h.M. thfsjs `lm djrst puaojshfm jl 0:1:,el 'Geoofgtjvf Fxprfssjels ed Easgfljty jl @drjg`'. @otheuch o`gkjlc thf peojsh ed hjs ierf i`turf wrjtjlcs, thf

    fss`y rfprfsflts thf djrst systfi`tjg `ppre`gh te rjtu`ooy s`lgtjelfm ojgflgf `lm 'ojgfltjeuslfss' jl @drjg`, arjlcjlc

    tecfthfr sg`ttfrfm tfxts jl puaojshfm `ggeults ... Wfvfr`o jipert`lt jmf`s wfrf derfsh`mewfm jl thjs fss`y,

    `ltjgjp`tjlc Q`mgojddf-Arewl's thfery ed 'pfrijttfm mjsrfspfgt', Cougki`l's werk el rjtu`os ed rfafoojel, `lm fvfl

    ]urlfr's stumjfs ed rjtu`o ojijl`ojty. Der gfltr`o te Fv`ls-^rjtgh`rm's `rcuiflt w`s thf jlsjcht th`t s`lgtjelfm

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    17/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    easgfljtjfs i`mf segj`o sflsf ay gh`llfoojlc rfprfssfm mfsjrf `lm 'pflt-up fietjel' (jajm.2 :6) jlte h`riofss

    'p`ooj`tjvfs' (jajm.2 0>>) `lm geoofgtjvf `gtjvjtjfs th`t wfrf cflfr`ooy (aut let fxgousjvfoy) s`lgtjdjfm ay gfrfielj`o.

    thfsf selcs wjthjl ` v`rjfty ed shjdtjlc geltfxts, r`lcjlc drei thf spfgjdjg segj`o prebfgt ed thf dfstjv`o jtsfod-

    whjgh js te estr`gjsf thjfvfs `lm stjci`tjsf 'fvjomefrs'-te thf sfxu`o, segje-peojtjg`o `lm hjsterjg`o 'sua-tfxts' whjgh,

    whfl vejgfm, `ggeult der jts mffpfr if`ljlcs `lm rjtu`o pewfr. Jl se mejlc, J hepf te ce afyelm g`leljg`o `ggeultsed hew rjtu`ojsfm estr`gjsi upheoms cflfr`o leris ed segj`ajojty (`otheuch sugh leris `rf gof`roy jlvekfm), der, `s

    wf sh`oo sff, thf 'g`l`ojsjlc' dulgtjels ed s`lgtjelfm easgfljty `lm `ausf `rf d`r drei h`riofss p`ooj`tjvfs der thesf

    ulmfr `tt`gk. Ler me thfy ifrfoy rfmrfss `ltjsegj`o afh`vjeur, der thf 'cr`lmiethfrs' (yfyf) ed thf Ereyfyf dfstjv`o

    rfgevfr rfprfssfm hjsterjg`o ifierjfs `lm myl`stjg go`jis th`t, jl tjifs ed grjsjs, g`l trjccfr segj`o `lm peojtjg`o

    gh`lcf. ]ruf ay mfdjljtjel, Ereyfyf tfxts let eloy gelstjtutf `l fddfgtjvf deri ed peojtjg`o grjtjgjsi-jl elf d`ieus

    g`sf r`ooyjlc thf puaojg te mfpesf `l frr`lt Ea` (kjlc) - aut `ose fst`aojsh ` puaojg `rghjvf ed fvjmflgf der oeg`o

    i`cjstr`tfs `lm hjsterj`ls jl `mmugjlc tfstjiely, gjtjlc prfgfmflts, `lm rfg`oojlc grjtjg`o ieiflts jl @yfmf's

    turauoflt p`st.

    Cougki`l st`tfs (0:6=a210)2 "]hf `ggfpt`lgf ed thf fst`a-ojshfm ermfr `s rjcht `lm ceem, `lm fvfl s`grfm, sffis te

    `ooew ularjmofm fxgfss, vfry rjtu`os ed rfafoojel, der thf ermfr jtsfod kffps thjs rfafoojel wjthjl aeulms." ... "]hfsfrjtu`os gelt`jl thf afojfd th`t jd pfepof pfrderi gfrt`jl `gtjels thfy wjoo jldouflgf thf geursf ed fvflts se th`t thfjr

    creup af i`mf rjghfr, ierf prespfreus, ierf suggfssduo, `lm se derth. Weif ed us thfrfderf g`oo thfsf `gtjels

    'rjtu`o', `lm s`y th`t thfy gelt`jl 'iystjg`o letjels'-letjels th`t thfjr pfrderi`lgf wjoo jl seif iys-tfrjeus w`y

    `ddfgt thf geursf ed fvflts. ]hjs fx`ijl`-tjel ed wrjtjlcs el @drjg` rfvf`os `l `aulm`lgf ed segj`ooy rfc`o`tfm

    fxprfssjels ed rfsfltiflt el rjtu`o `lm ethfr spfgj`o egg`sjels. ]hfy `rf gelmugtfm `t gfr-t`jl tjifs `lm `rf let

    `ooewfm te cft eut ed h`lm. Jl seif segjftjfs "rfcuo`-tjel" js strflcthflfm ay ojijtjlc thf fxprfssjels te ` creup

    ofvfo se th`t ierf jltflsf pfrsel`o hestjojty js `vejmfm. Jltfrpfrsel`o `jrjlc ed crjfv`lgfs js `ose geiiel, `otheuch

    jt sffis r`rfoy te `ppoy te spfgjdjg my`mjg rfo`tjelshjps.

    . . . J succfst th`t iugh ed wh`t h`s affl gjtfm `s fvjmflgf ed rfafoojel jl rjtu`os fosfwhfrf jl @drjg` js jl d`gt thf

    deri`o `mijssjel ed `lcfr, thf prfoumf te rfgelgjoj`tjel. ]hf aemy peojtjg js purcfm ay thf vfry `gt ed 'spf`kjlc eut'

    .... " Shfl rjtfs sffijlcoy hestjof te ruofrs `rf gelmugtfm eloy jl gfrfieljfs ed `ggfssjel, jt sffis meuatduo th`t

    thfy `rf fvfl fxprfssjels ed `lcfr. Wjlgf thfy `rf gelmugtfm `t jrrfcuo`r `lm seiftjifs crf`t jltfrv`os, thfjr v`ouf`s s`dfty v`ovfs der thf fxprfssjel ed `lcfr sffis iest meuatduo.

    Qjtu`o2 ^frspfgtjvfs `lm Mjiflsjels2

    G`thfrjlf Afoo

    ]hjs lfw rjtu`o p`r`mjci h`s ierf suatof r`ijdjg`tjels `s wfoo. ]r`mjtjel`ooy, der fx`ipof, thf ofcjtji`tf `utherjty

    `lm fddjg`gy ed rjtu`o wfrf goesfoy jltfrtwjlfm. Der jlvfltfm rjtfs, whjgh `rf let mffpoy reetfm jl `ly sh`rfm sflsf ed

    tr`mjtjel, hewfvfr, ofcjtji`gy `lm `utherjty tflm te af gelstrufm ierf ojchtoy `lm el qujtf mjddfrflt creulms. Der

    th`t rf`sel, pfrh`ps, iugh crf`tfr wfjcht `ppf`rs te d`oo el thf mjiflsjel ed fddjg`gy. ]hfrf js jlgrf`sfm prfssurf

    der thf jlvfltfm rjtf te shew th`t jt werks; thjs js wh`t ofcjtji`tfs thf rjtf sjlgf thfrf js le tr`mjtjel te me thjs.

    Ed geursf, thf fxpfgt`tjels ed wh`t jt if`ls te werk `rf `ose let thf s`if `s der tr`mjtjel`o rjtu`os, der whjgh le elf

    `skfm whfthfr thf rjtf werkfm, bust whfthfr jt w`s melf gerrfgtoy. Jl seif segjftjfs `lm gesieoecjfs, gerrfgt

    pfrderi`lgf ed ` rjtu`o i`mf jt fddfgtjvf whfthfr yeu w`ltfm jt te af er let.

    ]hf pest-geoelj`o, thf emms `lm thfjr jls`ljty.

    Ed geursf, W`mewsky `mijts, jt weuom af ` ijst`kf te geldo`tf i`mlfss wjth `ltjgeoelj`o rfsjst`lgf.

    Aut thf "geltflt" ed i`mlfss "mfi`lms ttfltjel;wjtheut jt thf p`tjflt js mfgeltfxtu`ojzfm, `lm thf segj`o

    mjiflsjel ed `ddojgtjel js easgurfm."

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    18/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    ]hf iest jltrjcujlc ed thfsf js thf g`sf ed Js``g E., te whjgh W`mewsky mfvetfs `l fltjrf gh`ptfr. @ ljlftffl-yf`r-

    eom ijssjel`ry stumflt `t thf tjif ed hjs djrst geldjlfiflt jl 0:71, Js``g go`jifm "th`t hf weuom kjoo `oo thf

    Furepf`ls jl Ljcfrj`," pesfm `s ` geoelj`o eddjgj`o jl ermfr te seojgjt hfop drei vjoo`cfrs whjof hf g`rrjfm oe`ms el `

    hjchw`y, `lm go`jifm th`t hf h`m "purgh`sfm ` ieter g`r der ` ijoojel peulms." Js``g's mfousjels mrfw `ttfltjel te

    hjs pesjtjel aftwffl guoturfs. Hjs vjeoflt sfltjiflts tew`rm Furepf`ls mfielstr`tfm hjs rfsfltiflt `t thf heooew

    preijsfs ed ` geoelj`o fmug`tjel, whjof hjs ethfr go`jis "`ppreprj`tfm" syiaeos ed Arjtjsh meijl`lgf2 ijojt`rypewfr, `uteietjvf tfghleoecy, `lm g`pjt`o. 6>

    Ed geursf, W`mewsky `mijts, jt weuom af ` ijst`kf te geldo`tf i`mlfss wjth `ltjgeoelj`o rfsjst`lgf. Aut thf

    "geltflt" ed i`mlfss "mfi`lms `ttfltjel;wjtheut jt thf p`tjflt js mfgeltfxtu`ojzfm, `lm thf segj`o mjiflsjel ed

    `ddojgtjel js easgurfm." Fvfl jd wf g`llet jltfrprft mfousjels `lm geldjlfiflt `s i`ljdfst`tjels ed rfsjst`lgf `lm

    epprfssjel, thfy "h`vf sjcljdjg`lgf `s ` c`ucf `lm rfprfsflt`tjel ed segj`o prfssurfs `lm geltr`mjgtjels" jl `

    ieiflt whfl Ljcfrj`ls jlgrf`sjlcoy rf`ojzfm bust hew ojijtfm thfjr eppertuljtjfs ulmfr geoelj`ojsi wfrf.

    W`mewsky deooews D`lel, gelgoumjlc th`t "`s jlghe`tf `rtjguo`tjels ed thf strfssfs ed geoelj`o segjfty" thf

    "'syipteis' ed Ljcfrj`'s oul`tjgs `lm thf psyghj`trjg o`afos th`t wfrf `ddjxfm" mffpfl eur ulmfrst`lmjlc ed thf

    psygheoecy ed geoelj`ojsi. @lm thf psyghj`trjg ojtfr`turf th`t ifmjg`o thferjsts premugfm `aeut jlmjcfleus i`mlfss

    jlderis us `aeut thf psygheoecjg`o prfmjg`iflts ed geoelj`ojsi der thf geoeljzfrs `s wfoo `s thf geoeljzfm.

    ^r`gtjtjelfrs jl Ljcfrj` "vjfwfm @drjg`ls `s rfprfsflt`tjvfs ed ` r`gf, r`thfr th`l `s jlmjvjmu`o p`tjflts," wjth thf

    rfsuot th`t thfy mfsgrjafm @drjg`ls' "jll`tf gh`r`gtfr" wjtheut fx`ijljlc Arjtjsh peojgjfs th`t prevekfm tr`ui` ay

    tr`lsderijlc thf segj`o o`lmsg`pf.60

    I`mlfss `lm Geoeljz`tjel, Qjgh`rm Kfoofr

    ^syghj`try jl thf Arjtjsh `lm Drflgh Fipjrfs, 08>>-0:41.

    I. B. Djfom, Wf`rgh der Wfgurjty2

    `l Fthle-psyghj`trjg stumy ed Qur`o Ch`l` (Oelmel 0:4>). th`t gfrt`jl gjrguist`lgfs jl thf ojvfs ed ojtfr`tfs 'geiajlf te i`kf thf ojtfr`tf oul`tjg aeth preijlflt `lm

    segj`ooy ul`ggfpt`aof `lm, let ull`tur`ooy, succfst te thf g`su`o easfrvfr th`t ojtfr`gy js jtsfod ` g`us`o d`gter'.

    Djfom letfs `l `pp`rflt gerrfo`tjel aftwffl ojtfr`gy `lm sghjzephrflj`, aut pejlts eut th`t, wjtheut rfoj`aof djcurfs

    el thf jlgjmflgf ed ojtfr`gy wjthjl `cf-creup, le gof`r gelgousjels g`l af mr`wl2 J weuom ojkf te strfss th`t thjs

    gerrfo`tjel js, der sfvfr`o rf`sels, hjchoy ijsof`mjlc `lm mefs let pejlt te ` gelgousjel th`t sghjzephrflj` js g`usfm

    ay ojtfr`gy (p.708). O`tfr jl thf aeek, whfl mjsgussjlc ghreljg sghjzephrflj`, shf i`kfs thjs pejlt `c`jl,

    gelgoumjlc th`t 'ojtfr`tf sghjzephrfljgs `rf ierf gelspjgueus th`l joojtfr`tf, aut let lfgfss`rjoy ierf luifreus'

    (p.=67). @ sjijo`r gelgousjel w`s rf`ghfm ay C. ]eeth, whe `ose werkfm el Ch`l`. Hf mr`ws `ttfltjel te thf d`gt

    th`t gfrt`jl gjrguist`lgfs jl thf ojvfs ed ojtfr`tfs 'geiajlf te i`kf thf ojtfr`tf oul`tjg aeth preijlflt `lm segj`ooy

    ul`ggfpt`aof `lm, let ull`tur`ooy, succfst te thf g`su`o easfrvfr th`t ojtfr`gy js jtsfod ` g`us`o d`gter'. Hf gelgoumfs

    th`t 'thjs survfy prevjmfs le fvjmflgf jl suppert ed thf hypethfsjs th`t psyghesjs js geiielfr jl thf Sfstfrljsfm

    creup th`l jl thf rfst ed thf pepuo`tjel'. C. ]eeth, Wtumjfs jl Iflt`o Joolfss jl thf Ceom Ge`st (Oelmel, 0:6>), gjtfm

    jl G`rethfrs, ]hf @drjg`l Ijlm.

    Ghjkuku`lce Guxji`-Rw`. @lceo`l Aemy ^`jltjlc ^frderi`lgfs2

    @rtjguo`tjels ed Mj`sperjg Mjsoeg`tjel, ^estgeoelj`ojsi `lm Jltfrguotur`ojsi jl Arjt`jl.

    Dfo` Kutj Murjlc thfsf pfrderi`lgfs hf s`grjdjgfm ` ghjgkfl `s ` deri ed aofssjlc hjs iusjg (Eoerulyeiy, 1>>72078). Hf s`grjdjgfm ` ghjgkfl te rfprfsflt thf pewfr `lm gress gellfgtjels aftwffl thf vjsjaof iert`o werom `lm thf

    jlvjsjaof jiiert`o werom, thf ghjgkfl w`s thf if`ls `lm `vfluf aftwffl thf twe weroms (Tf`o, 1>>72 7:). ]hf

    tr`ddjg ed flfrcy `lm dergfs aftwffl thfi js sft-up murjlc thf s`grjdjgf ed thf ghjgkfl. Sh`t J deulm `ppf`ojlc w`s

    th`t, murjlc @ljkuo`pe-Kutjs rjtu`os ...thf jltflt `lm fiph`sjs ed s`grjdjgf js let upel thf mf`th ed thf `lji`o , jt js

    upel thf tr`lsdusjel ed jts ojdf... drei thf physjg`o te spjrjtu`o werom (Mfrfl, 1>>=2 104).Jl ethfr werms, dofsh `lm

    aoeem afg`if thf fssflgf ed ojdf `lm mf`th ` mjvjlf flfrcy wjth thf cems jl Zerua` iytheoecjg`o mjvjljty

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    19/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    (Eoerulyeiy, 1>>72 076). Jl @ljkuo`pe-Kutjs rjtu`o pfrderi`lgfs thf ghjg fl s`grjdjgf js thf afcjlljlc ed `

    mffpfr gellfgtjel wjth spjrjts, thf spjrjts `rrjvf whfl thf ghjg fl mjfs, afg`usf upel thf ghjg fls mf`th hf oesfs

    geltreo ed hjs gelsgjeuslfss `lm spf`ks jl ` sjcl o`lcu`cf `lm struccofs te arf`k edd drei `l jlgeiprfhflsjaof

    fxpfrjflgf (Eoerulyeiy, 1>>72 074). Sh`t jltfrfstfm if jl @ljkuo`pe-Kutjs ghjgkfl s`grjdjgf js th`t, thf ghjgkfl

    rfprfsfltfm mf`th `lm thf dergf th`t cflfr`tfs lfw ojdf. Ojdf `lm mf`th afgeif elf `lm thf s`if (Kutj, 0:81).

    Ijgh`fo F. Tf`o, Dfo`2

    ]hf Ojdf `lm ]jifs ed `l @drjg`l Iusjg`o Jgel

    @ rfvjfw ay W`zj Mj`ijlj

    L`tjvjsi jl pestgeoelj`o guotur`o premugtjel js let ` rfbfgtjel ed thf flgeultfr wjth Furepf er ed iemfrljty `s sugh;

    jt mefs let df`r epfllfss, `lm hyarjmjty js let `ojfl te jt. Sh`t jt o`iflts js thf "dergfm lfgfssjty" ed thf l`tjvf te

    g`pjtuo`tf, `ppreprj`tf, er aerrew2 ` gh`r`gtfrjstjg gelmjtjel ed g`pjt`ojst iemfrljty th`t ruofs eut fqu`ojty jl

    `mv`lgf. Dfo`'s l`tjvjsi js let `l `t`vjstjg rfturl te reets aut ` rfgo`jijlc ed "`uthfltjg suabfgtjvjty"2 ` suabfgtjvjty

    th`t fxprfssfs, th`t js, suabfgts, jtsfod "drffoy" wjtheut thf fofiflt ed ` grumfoy eavjeus geipuosjel; thf pewfr `lm

    `uteleiy ed @drjg` te sfod-mjrfgt jtsfod `lm jts po`gf jl thf werom.

    @rrfst thf Iusjg! ]fbuieo` Eo`ljy`l

    Dfo` `lm Hjs Qfafo @rt `lm ^eojtjgsWff `ose Ofdfavrf's usfduo stumy (048-178). @s jl i`ly ethfr `rf`s ed geltfiper`ry @drjg`l jltfoofgtu`o premugtjel

    jl whjgh jt `ppf`rs, "l`tjvjsi," suppesfmoy thf go`iereus 'rfturl-te-reets' rf`ddjri`tjel ed l`tjvf, jlmjcfleus

    tr`mjtjels `c`jlst ` stjdojlc flgre`ghiflt ay thf derfjcl, h`s ` vfry fo`stjg gh`r`gtfr. L`tjvjsi hfrf h`s str`lcfoy

    rfdusfm te af aeulm ay jts gelgfptu`o "trja`o" er fthljg mfojijt`tjel, `lm h`s affl ul`peoecftjg`ooy tr`lsl`tjel`o,

    geltjlflt`o. Jl ethfr werms, l`tjvjsi jl @drjg`l mjsgeursfs r`rfoy spf`ks se iugh jl thf l`if ed thjs er th`t fthljg

    guoturf `s ed @drjg`l guoturfs cflfr`ooy. Ermjl`rjoy, sugh tr`lsl`tjel`ojsi g`l h`rmoy af mfsgrjafm `s "l`tjvjst"; th`t

    js, jt cflfr`ooy js lew ` tfst`iflt te thf pewfr `lm `ajojty ed Furepf`l r`gj`ojsi te ghf`pfl `lm sjipojdy geipofxjty

    jl jts ewl jltfrfst.

    Wff, der jlst`lgf, Hewf's usfduo `l`oysjs2 "Shfl Dfo` spekf `s hf edtfl mjmjl thf l`if ed '@drjg`', hf i`y h`vf

    affl prebfgtjlc seif ed thf `ttjtumfs ed ` d`ieus, fggfltrjg, suggfssduo, Sfstfrljzfm, uppfr-go`ss Zerua` `l`rghjst`lm aehfij`l el ` o`rcfoy ulgeiprfhflmjlc geltjlflt; aut pfepof ulmfrsteem th`t thf @drjg` hf rfdfrrfm te w`s `

    geoeljzfm @drjg` whesf prjv`tf hjstery h`m affl mjsruptfm ay eutsjmf dergfs `lm lffmfm te af rfo`ulghfm. ]hjs

    kl`gk ed afjlc wrelc, aut rjcht, flmf`rfm Dfo` te hjs gelstjtuflts. . . ." (07>; fiph`sjs `mmfm). ]hjs js wh`t K`ro

    I`rx if`ls jl elf ed hjs foequflt gh`r`gtfrjz`tjels ed g`pjt`ojst iemfrljty2 Jt geipfos `oo l`tjels, el thf p`jl ed

    fxtjlgtjel, te `mept thf aeurcfejs iemf ed premugtjel; jt geipfos thfi te jltremugf wh`t jt g`oos gjvjojz`tjel jlte

    thfjr ijmst, j.f., te afgeif aeurcfejs thfisfovfs. Jl elf werm, jt grf`tfs ` werom `dtfr jts ewl ji`cf".

    Dfo` @ljkuo`pe-Kutj

    ]hf @rt ed `l @dreaf`t Qfafo

    Q`lm`oo F Cr`ss

    Iusjg g`l af ` arjmcf te thf `lji`tjlc dergfs ed l`turf er te thf spjrjt-werom ed thf `lgfsters `lm thf ulaerl, `s wfoo`s te mfjtjfs whe jldouflgf thf i`tfrj`o werom. ]hf hjchoy sephjstjg`tfm rhythis ed @drjg`l iusjg fvekf thf

    i`ljdeom rhythis ed grf`tjel; thjs geipofxjty drfqufltoy mfi`lms ` o`rcf creup ed iusjgj`ls grf`tjlc geiiul`ooy.

    Aut hf `ose w`s sh`pfm ay `l fifrcjlc ura`l, aeurcfejs guoturf th`t w`s crf`toy jldouflgfm ay Sfst-frl v`oufs.

    Dfo` g`if ed `cf murjlc Ljcfrj`'s struccof wjth thf twjl spfg-tfrs ed geoelj`o suddeg`tjel `lm jipessjaoy rei`ltjg

    letjels ed jlmfpfl-mflgf. Ljcfrj`'s dofmcojlc stfps `s ` lfwoy jlmfpflmflt l`tjel jl thf '4es ofm jt rjcht jlte `l

    fxpoesjel ed mfvfoepiflt `ggfofr`tfm ay summfl wf`oth drei i`ssjvf ejo mjsgevfrjfs.

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    20/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    @c`jlst thf a`gkcreulm ed thf do`shy, sephjstjg`tfm tfghleoecy ed thf @ifrjg`l segjfty th`t `wfm hji, hf s`w

    pfepof whe wfrf turljlc te @drjg`'sg uotur`ot rf`surfsd er jlspjr`tjel` lm wjsmei. ]hf @uteajecr`phy ed I`ogeoiX

    jl p`rtjguo`rg elvjlgfm Dfo` te go`ji `lm fxpoerfh js @drjg`l jmfltjty, aeth pfrsel`ooy `lm wjth hjs iusjg.

    ]hf jip`gt ed thfsf rfgermjlcs el pest-geoelj`o Ljcfrj`, whjgh w`s deulmfrjlc jl w`vfs ed ger-ruptjel, swffpjlc

    segj`o gh`lcf, `lm w`r, w`s jiifmj`tf `lm predeulm. Wummfloy thf ura`l i`ssfs-`s wfoo `s precrfssjvf jltfoofgtu`os

    `lm rfs-tjvf stumflts-h`m ` spekfspfrsel, ` g`t`oyst der ieultjlc gh`ooflcfs. Ojkf tr`mjtjel`o iusjgj`ls, Dfo` w`s `

    ojchtljlc rem der thf gelgfrls ed segjfty, aut ulojkf thfi hf `meptfm ` geldrelt`tjel`o pesturf. Shfrf tr`-mjtjel`o

    iusjgj`ls ijcht `mieljsh ` ghjfd er go`l ifiafr wjth eaojquf s`tjrf, Dfo` weuom i`kf l`kfm `ggus`tjels `lm aoult

    g`oos te `gtjel.

    ]hf l`if ed thf goua rfdofgtfm Dfo`'s jltfltjel th`t jt af ierf th`l ` ljcht-goua; jt w`s if`lt te af ` po`gf ed

    geiiul`o gfofar`tjel `lm wershjp, ` r`ooyjlc pejlt ed p`l-@drjg`l precrfssjvjsi. @otheuch i`ly pfepof `t-tflmfm

    te flbey thf iusjg `lm thf oeesf fgst`sy ed thf rfafoojeus hfip-siekjlc grewm, bust `s i`ly wfrf thfrf te p`rt`kf

    ed Dfo`'s vjsjel ed ` lfw @drjg`l segjfty. Jlstf`m ed fthljg er "trja`o" geiiul`ojsi, `s jl tr`mjtjel`o segjfty, Dfo`'s

    lfw segjfty w`s p`l-fthljg `lm p`l-cflfr`tjel`o. @drjk` 3> pfrderifm el ` st`cf `t elf flm ed ` squ`rf, epfl-`jr

    geurt-y`rm fmcfm wjth thf do`cs ed `oo @drjg`l l`tjels.

    Jl rf`ojty, Dfo` fst`aojshfm` kjlm ed tr`mjtjel`o vjoo`cf jl thf ijmmof ed thf gjty, wjth hjisfod `s ghjfd, hf`m ed `

    peoyc`ieus heusfheom. Hf fxfrgjsfm mjsgjpojlfj l thf `utherjt`rj`la ut aflfveoflt i`llfr ed tr`mjtjel`o ruofrs.^jocrjis, whfthfr gurjeus p`s-sfrsay, wershjpduo tffl`cfrs, er fijss`rjfs drei precrfssjvf peojtjg`o ievfiflts,

    g`if der `umjflgfs. ]heuch Dfo`'s ojdfstyof jltfltjel`ooy h`rkflfm a`gk te tr`mjtjel, hjs doeutjlc ed gelvfltjel w`s

    `t emms wjth tr`mjtjel. Hf epfloy mjsrfspfgtfm thf pewfrs-th`t-af. ]hjs cflfr`tfm h`r`ssiflt ay thf peojgf `lm

    ijojt`ry whjgh fsg`o`tfm jlte vjeoflt go`shfs aftwffl `rrec`lt squ`ms ed "Dfo`'s aeys" `lm thf `utherjtjfs.

    @s thf prepesfm afcjlljlc ed gjvjoj`lc evfrliflt` ppre`ghfm, Dfo` `ssegj`tfm hjisfod wjth thf Zeulc @drjg`l

    ^jelffrs, ` peojtjg`o creup ojlkfm te v`cufoy segj`ojst weuom-af peojtjgj`ls. Hf afc`l te styof hjisfod `s "]hf Ao`gk

    ^rfsjmflt," ifltjeljlc `spjr`tjels tew`rm peojtjg`o eddjgf te drjflms. @oo ed thjs rfdofgtfm Dfo`'s dffojlc th`t `rt sheuom

    h`vf peojtjg`o purpesfs. Jl ` tfofvjsjel thf geltfxt ed thf hjsterjg`o, segj`o `lm guotur`o ijojfu ed pest-jlmfpflmflgf

    Ljcfrj` `lm `c`jlst thf st`rkoy geltr`stfm o`lmsg`pfs ed thf gjty ed O`ces, ` grugj`o ijx ed thrjvjlc djrst-werom `lm

    `l jipevfrjshfm, h`ph`z`rm ]hjrm- Serom ura`ljs`tjel. ]hf turauoflt a`gkmrep te hjs mfvfoepiflt js elf ed prf-

    geoelj`o Zerua` iuotj-fthljgjty `lm geipftjtjvfoy eppesfm jltrusjels ed geoeljsjlc Sfstfrl sevfrfjcltjfs `t ` tjif

    ed thf fifrcflgf ed tflsf @drjg`l gesiepeojt`l peojtjg`o fgeleijfs `lm iftrepeojsfs.

    Kutj goesfoy jmfltjdjfm hjisfod wjth iusjg`o dergfs whjgh threuch iusjg`o geipesjtjel `lm pfrderi`lgf `lm ay

    utjojsjlc mjddfrflt styojstjg `lm jmfeoecjg`o `ppre`ghfs seucht te cr`dt ` p`l-fthljg, p`l-@drjg`l guo-tur`o prjmf `lm

    gelsgjeuslfss elte fxjstjlc pepuo`r styofs sugh `s hjchojdf. Hewfvfr, jljtj`o `ttfipts te sft up ` thrjvjlc flsfiaof

    po`yjlc 'purf' @drjg`l-@ifrjg`l styof b`zz te Ljcfrj`l `umjflgfs `orf`my hf`vjoy creeifm el oeg`o `lm jltfrl`tjel`o

    geiifrgj`o iusjg`o styofs `lm m`lgfs flgeultfrfm mjddjguotjfs. Evfr `lm `aevf hjs sf`rgh der ` seulm jl whjgh

    fofiflts ed b`zz `lm hjchojdf, `s wfoo `s jldouflgfs ed Gua`l s`os` `lm rhythi-`lm-aoufs s`t wfoo tecfthfr, Kutj w`s

    `ose fveovjlc ` pfr-sel`o jmfeoecy whjgh seucht te jlgerper`tf hjs crewjlc flc`cfiflt wjth thf peojtj-g`o fgeleiy

    ed @drjg`l guoturf jl cflfr`o. @ o`rcf p`rt ed thjs pregfss jlveovfm ` mjsgursjvf flc`cfiflt wjth thf fxprfssjvf

    guotur`o gelsgjeuslfss ed aeth @drjg`l `lm mj`sperjg jmfltjtjfs jl pepuo`r iusjg`o pfrderi`lgf. hjs i`turf

    `dreaf`t styof fifrcfm murjlc thjs pfrjem, let`aoy hjs grf`tjel ed jltfroegkjlc rhythijg jlstruiflt`o p`ttfrls,

    pfrgussjvf herl rjdds `lm ` pfrsu`sjvfoy fietjel`o mfgo`i`tery veg`o styof, jl ` iusjg jiaufm wjth ulijst`k`aof

    pepuo`r m`lgf fofiflts. Ethfr iusjg`o mfvfoepiflts `t thjs tjif jlgoumfm ` cr`mu`o peojtjgjs`tjel ed hjs selc tfxts,

    jl p`rt muf te rfgflt ifltershjp jl thf Vljtfm Wt`tfs ed @drjg`l-@ifrjg`l 'ao`gk pewfr' `gtjvjsts, jmfeoecjfs `lm'ao`gk js af`utj-duo' mjsgeursfs. @s ` rfsuot, `oelcsjmf ` gelseojm`tjlc styof jiajafm drei ` mjvfrsf mj`sperjg

    jldoufltj`o p`ofttf, w`s Kutj's crewjlc `ssuiptjel ed ` Ljcfrj`l, meifstjg `lm cr`ssreets t`kf el mjvfrsf jssufs ed

    segj`o `lm peojtjg`o jipert. ]hf rfst ed thf deurth gh`ptfr mjsgussfs Kutj's iusjg`o `lm jmfeoecjg`o mfvfo-epiflt

    jlgoumjlc hjs `ssuiptjel ed wh`t afg`if gh`r`gtfrjstjg`ooy geltr`mjgtery pesjtjels wjth rfc`rm te jssufs jl aeth hjs

    puaojg `lm prjv`tf ojdf. ]hfsf jlgoumfm hjs lfe-tr`mjtjel`o styojstjg `ppre`gh whjgh if`lt ` gjrguivfltjel ed

    jlmjcfleus Zerua` iusjg`o pr`gtjgf, rjtu`os `lm gerf `rtjd`gts. Fi`l`tjlc drei aeth ` 'heif-crewl' @drjg`l `lm

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    21/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    ura`l O`cesj`l weromvjfw, thjs `ttr`gtfm coea`o `ttfltjel flgeur`cfm ay hjs fiar`gf ed djrst-werom iemfrl

    tfghleoecjg`o `lm pfrderi`lgf premugtjel styofs `lm ifthems. Erjcjl`tjlc ` segj`ooy eutspekfl pepuo`r iusjg styof

    jl thf ijmst ed thf fqu`ooy fifrcflt, mjsturajlc mjpoei`tjg fxgfssfs ed thf pest-ejo-aeei Ljcfrj`l st`tf, prfsfltfm

    jts ewl peojtjg`o gh`ooflcfs `lm pr`gtjg`o fgeleijg ghejgfs. Kutj's fst`aojshiflt ed thf pfrderi`lgf sp`gf klewl `s

    thf '@drjk` Whrjlf' sfrvfm aeth `s `l jlmfpflmflt peojtjg`o sp`gf der i`jlt`jljlc ` vfhfiflt eppesjtjel te Ljcfrj`'s

    peojtjg`o `lm fgeleijg of`mfrshjp, `s wfoo `s lurturjlc ` suavfrsjvf i`tfrj`o `lm ier`o fgeleiy wjth rfo`tjvf`uteleiy.

    geltfstfm ofc`gjfs ed ` pest-geoelj`o @drjg`l `lm pest-jlmfpflmflgf Ljcfrj`l ojdf fxpfrjflgf. Jl gh`ptfr djvf,

    Tf`o `ggeults der thf tflsf rfo`tjelshjps whjgh mfvfoepfm aftwffl Kutj `lm thf Ljcfrj`l st`tf, p`rtjguo`roy thf

    `riy, `s ` rfsuot ed hjs ajtjlc grjtjgjsi ed thf st`tus que. ]hjs w`s fssfltj`ooy fddfgtfm threuch gh`ooflcjlc selcs `lm

    pfrdei`lgfs `jifm `t degusjlc el `lm hjchojchtjlc thf `ausfs ed thf geultry's peojtjg`o of`mfrshjp. @s ` rfsuot, Kutj

    afg`if ` i`ber ojvjlc syiaeo ed mjssflt te ier`o gelvfltjel der ` rfafoojeus, yeuthduo @drjg`l ura`l suaguoturf.

    ]hreuch sft-tjlc up hjs ewl 'K`o`kut` Qfpuaojg' hf`mqu`rtfrs `lm oelc-rulljlc `mvfrtjsfiflts jl thf prfss, hf

    fst`aojshfm aeth physjg`o `lm mjsgursjvf mei`jls jl mftfrijlfm eppesjtjel te st`tf gerruptjel `lm jts vjeofltoy

    gflserj`o p`ttfrl ed mf`ojlc wjth ofcjtji`tf fxprfssjels ed segj`o crjfv`lgfs drei thf Ljcfrj`l pfepof. Jlmffm, thf

    hfjcht ed Kutj's grf`tjvf g`rffr w`s d`tfduooy evfrsh`mewfm `lm jts fgeleijg petfltj`o p`jlduooy trulg`tfm, ay `

    ruthofss `riy `tt`gk el hjs K`o`kut` rfsjmflgf jl 0:33.

    rjtu`o

    `gtjvjsithf g`sf der dfo` kutj

    & ao`gk `drjg`thf pestgeoelj`o geultry `lm pfrsel, thf emms `lm thfjr s`ljty;

    el Kfoofrs I`mlfss `lm Geoeljz`tjel, Ougfres]hf ^eojtjgs ed Qjtu`o.Qjtu`o der psyghjg `lm segj`o ul`ljijty `lm wfoolfss.

    @ Grjtjg`o Oeek `t Jlmjgfs Vsfm jl thf Wtumy ed Wegj`o Gh`lcf jl Geoelj`o @drjg`

    Afrl`rm I`cua`lfSrjtfs Iph`hofof (0:432 74-73)2 J h`vf `ssjijo`tfm thf fmug`tjel eloy thf Sfst h`m te eddfr if. J w`s areucht up

    el Furepf`l hjstery `lm ojtfr`turf `lm rfojcjel `lm i`mf te jmfltjdy wjth Furepf`l hfrefs whjof @drjg`l hfrefs

    wfrf afjlc mjsgrfmjtfm, fxgfpt thesf th`t afg`if Ghrjstj`ls er sjclfm `w`y thfjr o`lm `lm drffmei; whjof @drjg`l

    cems wfrf afjlc siekfm eut. ]hf styof ed `l`oysjs usfm jl thfsf stumjfs h`s `gtfm, peojtjg`ooy `s wfoo `s

    segjeoecjg`ooy, `s ` pewfrduo iystjdjg`tjel ed thf rf`o segj`o dergfs `t werk. Jt wjoo af shewl o`tfr jl thjs p`pfr th`t

    thf pessjajojty ed peojtjg`o `gtjel ay @drjg`ls te gh`lcf thf st`tus que h`s affl mfljfm jipojgjtoy ay thf w`y jl

    whjgh segj`o gh`lcf h`s affl gelgfptu`ojzfm. ]hfsf stumjfs `rf ` a`m fx`ipof ed wh`t Ijoos (0:402 6=) g`oos

    `astr`gtfm fipjrjgjsi2 Jlsed`r `s stumjfs ed str`tjdjg`tjel h`vf affl melf jl thf lfw styof, le lfw gelgfptjels h`vf

    `rjsfl.

    Jl rf`ojty, ed geursf, fmug`tjel `lm eggup`tjel, `s wfoo `s ` t`stf der gelvfltjel`o goethjlc `lm deem, `rf jlstru-

    iflt`o jl thf struccof der pewfr. ]hf @drjg`l g`llet mjspfo thf dffojlc ed jldfrjerjty flcflmfrfm ay thf systfi ultjo

    hf js `aof te ifft `lm mf`o wjth thf "supfrjer" go`ssfs el thfjr ewl tfris `s rfc`rms fmug`- tjel jl thf are`mfst

    sflsf-`lm th`t jlgoumfs styofs ed mrfss `lm mjft. ]hf segj`o tflmflgjfs ed ` pfepof, thfrfderf, `ow`ys `rjsf drei `gtu`o

  • 7/23/2019 ritual Activism; The case for Fela Kuti and Black Africa

    22/45

    Cjvf if geltreo evfr hf whe sh`pfs thf iusjg ed l`tjel,

    `lm J g`rf let whe i`kfs thf o`ws. L`peofel

    Klewofmcfjs pewfr jl ` gesijg sflsf; jtsrhythi.

    Elgf yeu st`rt te h`vfrhythi yeu st`rt te h`vfklewofmcf. Dfo` Kutj

    ^`cf

    lffms wjthjl thf pfepof, `lm let threuch ifrf jijt`tjel ed derfjcl iemfos. Jt js pessjaof, gfrt`jloy, te of`rl drei

    ethfr geultrjfs er ethfr tjifs; aut pfepof t`kf drei thfsf seurgfs eloy wh`t thfy g`l usf, wh`t gerrfspelms te `

    lffm. L`tur`ooy elf mefs let ce te thf treuaof ed jlvfltjlc ` lfw jtfi whfl `l fxjstjlc elf js h`lmy. ]hf d`gt th`t `

    lfw jtfi geifs drei `are`m mefs let `lswfr thf qufstjel ed why jt djlms usf; th`t g`l eloy af fxpo`jlfm ay `gtu`o

    lffms ed thf pfepof thfisfovfs (K`ustky 0:672146). ]hf reof ed iemfrl jlmustrj`o mfvfoepiflt jl thf segj`o `lm

    spjrjtu`o grjsjs ed thf geoeljfs w`s jlmffm crf`t. ]hf "`gguotur`tjel" whjgh teek po`gf whjof @drjg`ls wfrf ulmfrgeoelj`o ruof w`s iugh ierf th`l `spjrjlc te "ce`os ed ` Furepf`l gh`r`gtfr." T`l mfl Afrchf (J0:4=2 4=) h`s s`jm2

    "Mftrja`ojz`tjel" js, thus, let sjipoy thf premugt ed sfofgtjvf aerrewjlc, wjth er wjtheut rfjltfrprft`tjel, drei

    Sfstfrl guoturf. Jt js `ose ` pregfss ed guotur`o mjsoeg`tjel `lm mjs- erc`ljz`tjel jljtj`tfm ay thf jip`gt ed fxtfrl`o

    dergfs (sugh `s jlmustrj`ojz`tjel `lm peojtjg`o suabfgtjel), `lm ` pregfss ed rf`m`pt`tjel ed thf tr`mjtjel`o jlstjtutjels

    te thf lfw gelmjtjel.

    Tjgter ]urlfr, ]hf Qjtu`o ^regfss2

    Wtrugturf `lm @ltj-Wtrugturf.

    Wjlgf segjftjfs `rf pregfssfs rfspelsjvf te gh`lcf, let djxfm strugturfs, lfw rjtu`os `rf mfvjsfm er aerrewfm, `lm eom

    elfs mfgojlf `lm mjs`ppf`r. Lfvfrthfofss, deris survjvf threuch doux, `lm lfw rjtu`o jtfis, fvfl lfw rjtu`o

    geldjcur`tjels, tflm ierf edtfl te af v`rj`lts ed eom thfifs th`l r`mjg`o levfotjfs.

    Sh`t J deulm `ppf`ojlc w`s th`t, murjlc @ljkuo`pe-Kutjs rjtu`os

    ... thf jltflt `lm fiph`sjs ed s`grjdjgf js let upel thf mf`th ed thf `lji`o, jt js upel

    thf tr`lsdusjel ed jts ojdf... drei thf physjg`o te spjrjtu`o werom (Mfrfl, 1>>=2 104). drei thf physjg`o te

    spjrjtu`o werom (Mfrfl, 1>>=2 104). Jl ethfr werms, dofsh `lm aoeem afg`if thf fssflgf ed ojdf `lm mf`th `

    mjvjlf flfrcy wjth thf cems jl Zerua` iytheoecjg`o mjvjljty (Eoerulyeiy, 1>>72 076).

    Ojs` B. Ougfre, ]hf ^eojtjgs ed Qjtu`o2

    ]hf Fifrcflgf ed Go`ssjg I`y` Quofrs.

    Hew mjm Go`ssjg I`y` ruofrs (g`. `.m. 16>86>) `gqujrf `lm i`jlt`jl peojtjg`o pewfr - thf `ajojty te fx`gt trjautf

    jl thf deri ed surpous ceems `lm o`aer drei suabfgts5 J `rcuf th`t jt w`s threuch thf rfpojg`tjel `lm fxp`lsjel

    ed meifstjg