Zombie

I don't think I'm ever really going to be an afrobeat fan, and this album hasn't changed that. While the music isn't horrible in general it still just doesn't really interest me. I think it's down to the core elements of what makes something afrobeat that just doesn't interest me Standouts Mr. Follow Follow 2/5

An interesting album to say the least for a guy who has a pretty interesting background (read up on him before the listen). This album is pretty ahead of its time, but not in instrumentation, in messaging and protest. While protest music did exist, this one really antagonized Fela Kuti's country of Nigeria and their military specifically. It was a brave and bold stance for Fela Kuti, considering the aftermath of this album's release. With the messaging in the album, it infuriated the Nigerian government so much to a point where his mother got killed by the military, his village being destroyed, and his studio getting destroyed. Fela Kuta was an activist at heart and a musician by soul, these events really showed what he was willing to do to expose a corrupt and authoritarian regime. But, I think I would be remiss if I didn't mention how great this album sounded. It's groovy and head bopping in all the right ways. It is a pretty inspiring listen and definitely something you should listen to as well because I had a good time listening to it. Favorite Songs: Zombie, Mr. Follow Follow, Mistake Rating: 5/5

not my thing

Liked it a lot!

A fun jazzy little album with a surprising and fascinating history. What this album caused is terrifying and genuinely horrific, the perpetrators living up to the scathing criticism levelled at them in this album. Powerful and political yet bouncy and fun, an incredible combo!

The music , the massage the groove the fusion… the political context !

Great stuff. No notes.

To me Fela Kuta always sounds like nothing I've ever heard, even when I've heard his stuff before

This here is exactly why one does a project like this. I'm in my mid-60s. I listen to a lot of music and many different genres (admittedly my faves are punk/post-punk bands) and today I received this gift from the music-gods (as unreal as any other gods, but there you go). Thank you sky-genies for bringing this into my life. Yes...5 stars! (Now I will check out his/their back-catalog...more music for my MP3 library!)

Nice nice afro

Genial

7/10

I am sure this is better than I am rating it. The deficiencies are all mine.

Amazing!!

Just a small bit of editing on the length would have improved this, but overall a fun album 4*

5 stars. Really enjoy Fela Kuti, and only a few days ago learned about his son Fema Kuti and his album. This is definitely an iconic album.

If this album doesn't get you moving, you're probably dead. Protest music with bite from a time and place where that put your life at risk. Powerful lyrics and infectious grooves. a deadly combination for the authoritarian regime. 5 stars.

zombie...didn't realize deja vu opening came from this. this is why i do this!!

Total classic, Fela Kuti creates a groove like no other

One of the strongest albums by one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century

Quel personnage que Fela Kuti. J'aimerais lire plus sur sa vie mouvementée. Un rebel et contestataire. Des passes moins claires comme la fois qu'il a marié 27 femmes d'un coup (protection de sa communauté vs polygamie très machiste). J'écoute quand même assez souvent du Fela Kuti parmi ses 46 albums studio. Faut le faire quand même. Mon frère Gerry Love a il y a quelques années été dans je ne sais plus quel musée à Paris et il m'avait envoyé une photo d'une vitrine d'exposition avec une bonne quinzaine de slips ''speedo'' colorés de Fela.

C'est comme assez fun et dansant en général, mais les winds sonnent faux, particulièrement sur la toune live, et ça ça m'agresse. 27 femmes faut le faire pareil!

Excellent et dansant. Très politisé de ce que je comprends, le backstory est assez rock'n'roll.

Fun. Jazzy with some afro beats.

Sensational album, no flaws. His 27 wives provide great backing vocals. The story behind the aftermath of this album is slightly horrifying but yeah. This is going into the permanent rotation

Never heard of the bloke now 2 albums in 2 weeks

Feels like a defiance to the dictatorship while also grieving for the passing of his mum.

A really fun mix of jazz instrumentals and chanty vocals. The songs all have a great groove to listen to and follow along with. I can totally see this as an album I come back to.

First Fela Kuti album I've listened to and honestly dig the grooves in this. Though I feel like the consequences and history of this album release was more interesting.

I don't know much about the genre but I appreciate the instrumentals.

I really enjoyed the instrumentals in this album. I know very little about this style of music but listening to this album inspired me to learn more.

i was very intrigued to hear the father of afrobeats! i was not sure if i would like it once i got into the first track, but if you put it on as background music it's actually really fun i would play this to set up the scene in an old vigilante cop movie while shots of the city flashed on screen, giving the audience a feel for the energy and tension to come

Dude, the history behind this album gets me pumped! I wanted to like this before I even listened! Also, guy married 27 ladies. This is a level of charm that might need to be studied. But perhaps it hasn't because he divorced most at once because he ended up thinking that marriage breeds jealousy. Nevermind only having one. This guy released an album speaking against his government at a time where that was deadly. Maybe he thought hiding the message between funky jazz sections made it tough to get to, but that funky jazz was good. The result being what is thought to be the murder of his mother and the destruction of his entire commune. Music is the weapon

Really, really liked this. Not into jazz, but if I'm going to listen to jazz, this is how I want it to sound. The beats are great, the horns are bright and vivid...this is excellent. Perfect music for having to do monotonous work and wanting to listen to something.

In thanks to this list, I've discovered Afro-beat like Fela Kuti and others. It's so funkin' refreshing to listen to. 4/5

i knew the title track but had never listened to the whole record. i'm glad i finally did!!!! shout-out tony allen.

AWESOME!

Good world music

Some chill morning vibes, cafe for sure/ Jazzy

3,1

Has a very boppy feel. I had a good time with this one. But it's not something I usually like.

I love just about all Fela, bit this one's pretty special. I don't think my favorite stuff is even here, but I'll never get sick of it.

fela has a ton of great albums, this is probably his best

Extremely funky and infectious. Sounds like a very fun jam session of expert musicians, but it is actually a thoroughly composed piece that moves and evolves very gradually. This album got me into Fela Kuti's music and at this point I may prefer his early record Roforofo Fight for the sheer scope alone, but this is definitely one of his best as well. There are strong political overtones here too, but they understanding the context isn't really necessary to enjoy the music. Key track: Zombie

como sempre mto bom parabéns fela

absurdíssimo eu achei melhor que o live! inclusive. bonito político e dançante, tem coisa melhor não!!!

Original LP was 2 songs that were over 12 minutes each. The reissue doubled the tracks to 4 and clocks in at a whopping 53 minutes! The godfather of afrobeat!

This album is really good. I liked it a lot. It is so much fun to listen to and also a short but really enjoyable experience. It's not something I would highlight but a really well done record, for sure.

Music is so personal. People love Afro Beat; so it's great music. Period. But for me it only works as background. The rhythmic complexity is interesting. But the monotonous harmonic structures and lack of melodic themes leave me bored. Listening to this EP was about as entertaining as watching a CGI screen saver for 25 minutes.

so much jazz on this list. I liked it okay but it doesn't stand out to me

I had an insanely visceral reaction to this song. Never heard of Fela Kuti before this and while I respect his mission, it legit felt like my throat locked up. I couldn’t breathe. Not a fan.

Only somewhat familiar with his output prior to hearing this, I loved it. Great with my morning coffee. Initially I wanted the music to do more and go to different places, but that was my expectation obstructing what the music actually is. Will definitely revisit, and am curious to investigate further.

Good album. Very interesting life. I think I prefer Femi kuti over this album but they should both be 4 stars. Although I apparently rated Femi kuti 3 at the time.

Excellent. The grooves keep the songs grounded while everything around them morphs and shifts. Then 7 minutes in the vocals join in and they evolve even further. I don’t think you have to like Afrobeat at all to appreciate Fela. Just a wonderful collection of songs. And the kicker is a 15 minute live performance. The stones on this guy! FOUR STARS

Wowza. What a record. Immediately downloaded. Great to listen to when doing work. Googled him later and found out he once married 27 women in one day - what a geezer, but NOT a sleaze. Go 'ed Fela. 5 stars.

This is the sort of thing that I joined this project for! Quirky albums that stimulate the mind! African beats, funky/ jazzy guitars and probably a bit too much horn! I will say it gets a bit repetitive, I've played on an African drumming song before and I remember sore hands and repetitive parts (the guitar and bass get a lot of same same). The horns often play rippoff riffs of famous songs (I swear I heard 'The Last Post' butchered in there at some point!). I'm in two minds about it. Yes, it's fun, but at the same time, a bit repetitive. I think a few drinks and good company could sway that opinion. 4 stars.

This album is like heading home from hanging out at a park with your friends, and finding a street carnival is going on just around the corner. The sounds are vibrant, and the air is thick with the aroma of street food. You senses are overloaded with the smell of meat cooked in a wide array of spices, while your eyes are greeted with bright colours everywhere you look. You can hear people chanting purposefully near the band a few hundred metres away. You can't make out what they are saying, but it sounds purposeful. Heat is rising from the asphalt as children run around chasing a soccer ball. Even though the sun is at it's hottest, and you know it has been four or five hours since you last applied the Hawaiian Tropic, you can't pull yourself way from this mini carnival. A man with a straw hat and a huge smile offers you a beer and thanks you for coming out and showing your support. You feel too sheepish to tell him you don't know what you are supporting, especially as he might take that ice-cold beer back from you. You decide to stick around for a bit, and before you know it the sun is coming down. After a few more beers and some amazing chicken and rice covered in spices your palette doesn't recognize, a woman grabs the band's microphone and thanks everyone for coming out today. She finishes her quick speech by boasting that there's no way they can't hear us now. You're not sure who 'they' are, but you really hope they listen.

Fresh, Jazzy, Funky. A great ride. Goes by fast despite its moderate run time and leaves you wanting more. While other jazz influenced albums can be all pomp, pretentiousness and show offy, there is none here. All feels authentic

Like a mix of Santana, Hector Lavoe, and Herbie Hancock. I fw it heavy

Good beats. Definitely not what I expected. Give the album’s Wikipedia page a read if you haven’t!

This album has some really cool percussion, saxophone, and brass. I appreciate the jazz influence on the afrobeat sound. All of the songs feel pretty chill, but it is actually quite a political album (thanks Kerri for referencing the Wikipedia page about the album - the backstory is wild). Fela Kuti seems to have been an important political activist in Nigeria. He also apparently had 27 wives at one point. Knowing the context, I can definitely see why this album is on the list. My favorite song was Mistake. 7/10.

What a great album! Really liking Fela Kirk!

This was an interesting album. The instruments were really cool and same with the rhythms. The vocals and lyrics were very repetitive

Really like the combination of the 2-3 genres here, some great sections in here. Some interesting history behind this guy and this album as well. Enjoyed the listen through. Favorite song was Zombie.

Sweet Jazz Record

Ihan leppoisaa Africa bambaatta rytmimusaa.

239/1089 - Can definitely see the influence this had on some of the 80s music like Talking Heads and Peter Gabriel. I like the horn playing. A bit too repetitive at times for me but I also think things change enough to feel good, more-so than Remain in Light for sure. It's also people like Fela Kuti and Dmitri Shostakovich who are inspiring to me. They chose to keep making music when under horrible authoritarian regimes that wanted them and their loved ones dead. That takes strength.

Amazing.

This album is partially responsible for me being able to finish writing my master's thesis, so a five-star rating comes naturally from my end. Personal experiences aside, afrobeat never sounded as fun and hypnotic as on this album.

Fun album!

Há que se fazer uma consideração importante: o álbum original (1976), de pouco mais de 25 minutos, é composto pelas faixas 1 e 2. São temas mais centrados na mistura de música africana e funk. A versão do Spotify é de um CD lançado em 2010 com duas faixas extras é bem mais interessante, com destaque para os elementos jazzísticos. A última faixa "Mistake" (ao vivo no Berlin Jazz Festival - 1978) é o ponto alto do disco.

Cool!! 12 min songs (3x). Loved Talking Heads vibe (they stole it).

Prima

It's ok, but not for me.

Fela Kuti is a force of nature, and this is Fela at the height of his powers. Nigerian Afrobeat is fully a force by this album. The political message super on point, the long grooves are everything you want and need. The title track is obviously the standout here, but Mr. Follow picks up on a more deep cut groove right after. Everything flows together smoothly as could be expected. These guys are the kings of vibe. If only Fela was better known in the West... but then we wouldn't have all the 15 minute jam songs. Mistkae is an underappreciated deep cut that definitely bangs. Clean 5/5, and props to Dimery for having two Fela albums on this list (so far!).

Have been a Fela fan for a long time but I don't think I've actually sat down and intentionally listened to Zombie before. He has this quality where you know from the first bar that its a Fela Kuti song and you just get into a particular headspace where you're like 'yep, time to lose my mind'. Aside from the funky madness that you're guaranteed with Fela the other thing I love is how he lets the band speak for itself. Five minute long instrumental intros really let you move your body before he hits you with some consciousness. All political activists should remember this - you aren't trying to win hearts and minds with your protest songs - you're trying to win feet.

A great album. I'm not a fan of African music. I was therefore skeptical about this album and was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, the African roots of the music are unmistakable. But with the jazz and soul elements, it sounds great to me too. I will gladly listen to it again. 4/5

Amazing album with very funky jazz and politically charged lyrics. My favorite part of this list is listening to new artists and discovering their music. This is one of the artists, especially with the impact he has on so many people.

Loved it. I don't know how to review music like this but it rules. I've listened to fela before and always enjoyed it. This album was great. Expansive horn sections that wander around but not aimlessly, really free-form but keep coming back to repeated motifs that hook you right back in. So much groove. Great!

Interesting groove throughout, great musicianship. Not quite my fave but worth listening to.

A little more focused than the Ginger Baker one. Liked it.

hated

# 562 : Zombie Zombie – Funky, Political, and 20 Minutes Too Long What a groovy, fun album! Zombie kicks off with its title track—upbeat, politically charged, and somehow still makes you want to dance. It’s a combo I can get down with. The energy is infectious, the groove is undeniable… and then it just keeps going. And going. Four tracks over 53 minutes means you’re getting a lot of jam for your buck—but if you shaved off about four minutes from the start and end of each track, you’d have a banger. Instead, it’s another one for the “why is this on the must-hear list?” pile. Verdict: Three stars for the groove. One for the patience required. If you have to listen to this, look out for : Zombie Listened: 05/09/2025

Fela Kuti delivers a powerful message, even if the music itself doesn’t resonate with me personally.

One was too many, but two albums by Fela, no thank you. Four 12+ minute songs that just go on and on forever. I don't appreciate jazz, don't understand it, it doesn't make me want to move or even keep listening. I'm sure they're great musicians but that noisy horn is ear splitting and just not enjoyable. I made it 2 mins into the title track before I had to pause and regroup. Then the nonsensical, flat, repetitive vocals kicked in to completely ruin my experience. If you made it to the 9 minute mark without fast forwarding you're a badass, or maybe a dumbass! "Mr. Follow Follow" had some musical moments but again, in come the vocals and the screaming backup singers. Nope. I was literally looking around for a door to walk out of. I made it halfway through "Observation..." and threw in the towel altogether. No bueno. Hard to throw one star out but it's the least I can do, literally. NOT Top 1001 worthy, not by a longshot!

Damn, this and Sunny Ade the beginning of my love of Afro beat/World. The back story of course is profound, music as life force. The helmets on the cover Nazi-evocative, opposed to the colorful title and Fela (and the music) standing bravely in opposition. 4 songs, 55 minutes, inspires me to not follow and use my senses.

Hypnotic and really drew me in.

Man, the first riffs, the energy, this launched with a bang. I wasn't 100% on board with all the vocals, I was digging the instrumental work. But I started to get into the rhythm and vibe of the voices, and that last song, repetitive as it was, must have been a thrill to see live.

Fela is one of my favorites and this is one of his best. Plus, it's only 25 minutes long! Funky, angry, tight... Love it!

muy interesante el contexto en el que se realizó este álbum. me flipa el ritmo y sonido de jazz, blues y funky, hace que se te muevan los pies solos. no hay nada que me guste mas que una intro larga y con ritmo pegadizo. Canciones favs: zombie, mr. follow follow,

Lekker hoor. Beetje kort maar er is nog een langere playlist van zijn muziek.

Afrobeat is what jam bands would sound like if they had any talent. It amazes me that playing that tight can go on for as long as these songs do. Afrobeat is jazz and James Brown and traditional African music all melded together to make a genre that is more than the sum of its parts. This is an incredible album and definitely one that everyone should hear. Also, you know what the worst part of having 27 wives is? 27 MOTHER-IN-LAWS!!!! https://tenor.com/xvDw.gif

4

Again jazz, mainly instrumental, nice for background music, nothing memorable.

Nice afrobeat tunes! I’d give it more like a 3.8 out of 5 :)

Tycker Fela Kutis musik är så himla häftig. Groovig, fantastiskt att ha i bakgrunden om man vill men också otrolig att lyssna på. 5/5!

Not my thing musically, but not bad.

Interesting story and politically charged lyrics. Not my favourite, though I had a good time with it

Nice, soulful, Afro-beat jazz.

good vibes

Good! Felt more like ambiance music but still good.

Yeah it seems like just one good song

Rad, reminded me of WITCH. Need to check him out more

Quite enjoyed Zombie, but not the other songs so much.

Loved it! 70s list throwback. Super fun and the grooves and loops are incredible. He is such a genius and his band was so good. Love the guitar playing. 4.5/5

Noice good stuff. Very cool and fun and swinging. The first song is the hit for sure.

Fun

I listened to this while cleaning and it made time go by faster. Loved the music I just don’t think this was made for me and that’s okay.

Not my favourite Kuti, but great track! 4 Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes. 9/1001, 9/37 (24%) Will I get?

Not bad, I'd consider looking this up again.

Listened to Home Is Where The Music Is by Hugh Masekela just before this. 40~ years difference, but some very similar music styles and instrumentation! Instrumental Jazz, with musically African influences. I liked it!

Ended up being very good “driving around Hawaii” music 3.5 Stars

Good

This album reeks of contempt for the Nigerian government. Just 4 tracks but each with their own unique approach. Banger, need more like this. 9/10

Found this interesting but very long

One track in and this shit rules! This rocks. Must listen to more

ZOMBIEOO ZOMBIE ZOMBIEEE BRRRAPP BRAPP

Love me some afrobeat, and it's very interesting Nigerian history, but I played this album to death a couple of years ago

Absolutely brilliant. I didn't really start listening to Afro-beat until later in life, and have known that Fela is an absolute legend, but haven't heard much of his music before. The original 2 song album would have been a 4, but the 2 added tracks on the remastered CD (particularly the live recording of "Mistake") bring it up to a 5.

Zombie no go go ... unless you tell am to go! Zombie no go stop ... unless you tell am to stop!

This was fun and funky. I liked it. I read up on him and it seems he led a pretty wild life. Fight the power.

Jazzy, I liked it,.

Ne, wieder eine Enttäuschung (für meinen Geschmack)!

Such an amazing disk, fela kuti has an interesting story

Unstoppable grooves of good.

Zombie O Zombie!!!

3 Good music but boring and old for my taste.

Zombie is the better of the two songs but the other one was still good

Fancy shit, maing

Favorites: Zombie (very catchy and high-energy) Mr. Follow Follow (laid back) Mistake (live) Long tracks - feels like your listening to a live album or at an improv jazz performance. It kinda makes sense for this style and it's appreciated. "Zombie" heavily outperforms the rest of the album though.

Nothing memorable in there for me.

This project has revealed that in fact, I do like jazz. Even better that it's against the backdrop of of those high energy beats. Need to listen to more Afrobeats. Respect for someone who walked the walk and paid the price for speaking out against injustice.

Really enjoyed this. Good music, and the political messages were well delivered. Shame about the attack: autocrats rule in and with fear. It's also a shame that he had to give up all 28 wives, but it wasn't good for them to be jealous of each other.

Not something I would return to, but the energy had my foot tappin' and head noddin'. The music is respectable on its own, but as a protest album it goes extra hard.

Not for me!

Might be the best album yet

I would rarely choose to listen to instrumental music but actually quite enjoyed this. Enjoyed the vibe and felt like I should be on holiday with a cocktail rather than driving to Erdington

This is fun! I enjoyed it

I like jazz music when I hear it live, but this is the first time I’ve ever listened to a full album. I enjoyed it - think it does a good job of capturing what jazz feels like live.

Always a joy to hear and tap along to, but for some reason I never go back to this on purpose. Too many wives I think.

I can't decide, if I'm just very tired, still reeling from QPR's 7-1 defeat at Coventry, or just not in the mood... But Fela's not my fella today. I struggled with the length of, and lack of variation in, the title track. As a result of that, and the fact that Jane had already turned off the hotel room lights, I'm skimmed tracks 2&3 before giving up entirely. I'm not shaking my booty to Kuti

I can't decide, if I'm just very tired, still reeling from QPR's 7-1 defeat at Coventry, or just not in the mood... But Fela's not my fella today. I struggled with the length of, and lack of variation in, the title track. As a result of that, and the fact that Jane had already turned off the hotel room lights, I'm skimmed tracks 2&3 before giving up entirely. I'm not shaking my booty to Kuti

Like it. We saw Femi Kuti, his son, play at The Festival Hall a few years back.

Clearly sick - 'nuff said.

Low 5 Best song: zombie

Energetic, great beats, not my vibe, but I get it.

Заслужено Куті є в цьому списку. Дуже життєствердна музика, енергія пре просто

Легенда!

Stellar trumpet playing. Groovy music. Wish I understood the political message better, but overall this was a very good record to listen to for the first time. 4/5

Groovy and powerful.

really fun and best jazz i've heard in a while.

A short, but extremely fun switch of genre. Normally, I'm not a big fan of long songs. I was thoroughly shocked by how much I enjoy the music from the first song. Zombie had such an upbeat, but casual sound to it that I just totally got lost in the vibe of it. Once the vocals came on around 6 minutes in too, it was a great change of sound and really elevated the song. Then the next song was way laid back too which I loved even more. Although the next two songs didn't live up to the other two, I loved what I heard at the start of this thing. These songs had a Cowboy Bebop like sound to it that really hooked me since it had a jazzy sound with a blend of other genres like afrobeat. Due to this, the music was simply fresh sounding and fun. Its not my go to music, but I definitely wouldn't mind jumping back to this again especially if I had a long car ride.

He just does it better ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Good zombie.

*****

Everything I’ve heard from Fela Kuti has been good, and Zombie is no exception. This album is full of fun energy, driven by its jazzy, funky mix and rhythms. It’s sharp and groovy, showcasing exactly why Fela’s music remains so powerful and timeless.

I will admit I had no idea what to expect. But this album was a true delight. Beautiful music coupled with rhythmic singing/chanting. Songs that are 10+ minutes long and change forms a time or two throughout. It was a fun and enjoyable listen.

There are parts in many 70's films where there is some kind of strange mash up of jazz, a toldler with a snare and a lot of drugs that is there to suggest strange goings on, or a fever dream. This is that mess

I did enjoy listening to the instruments and unique melodies, but I couldn't stay focused on the songs. This just wasn't my cup of soup

Soooo fun great to drive to

Kinda fun

Rom h do g hi pol is my favorite song

Good

Zombie

My big takeaway from this project is that I really dig Afrobeat and AfroCuban jazz. Also, a lot of people don’t like jazz of any origin, which is a shame for both them and society.

It's very dynamic jazz.

Pleasant enough! It is interesting that music about some difficult conditions can sound so happy.

i don’t like jazz but if I had to listen to it, this would do. groovy infusions

ne infamia ne lode

even if its masterful its boring

Very enjoyable

Definitely not an artist I had listened to before, or even heard of unless I had been doing this list. So I'm glad for that. I liked the music, but it just doesn't do much for me. Another "Nothing bad, nothing great" album.

Really enjoyable afrobeat - beautiful instrumentals (predominant) and vocals (occasional)

Very niche, tribal rhythms that we are not used to. Very interesting and charming to listen to.

Yeah pretty good stuff. I liked Water No Make Enemy and now learning about the reason he made this album is pretty cool and adds some context. Afrobeat is cool.

Good atmosphere. Can't say that is my cup of tea, but it's good and authentic. Can recommend.

day 2, zombie fela kuti track 1, zombie: 3.5/5 track 2, mr. follow follow: 4/5 track 3, observation no crime: 3/5 track 4, mistake - live: 3/5

So nice I listened twice

liked mistake the most, it was the least repetitive would be fun to dance to live, but really repetitive music

When I was maybe 20, I took probably my first solo trip across country to visit my cousin in Seattle. He lived in this little cool hippie loft in a two flat overlooking gasworks Park. I remember one of the days he had to work and I slept in a bit and when I got up and went through his records, and I found this and Black Sabbath’s Paranoid. T was a beautiful day and I have a distinct memory of hearing this for the first time looking out the window, looking at the Seattle skyline over the Puget Sound while having my mind a little bit blown.

Recht ungewöhnlich mit Songs > 10 Minuten

That was a great album to listen to it twice.

It’s jazz not my thing but still nice beats

Stressful jazz

Cool Jazz.

This album was such a vibe! I’m not sure if I’ve ever listened to Fela Kuti before or an afrobeat album but this was lots of fun. This is the kind of music I would dance the night away too. I would definitely listen to this album again depending on my mood. An enjoyable listening experience!

Loved the energetic beats and the groovin' melodies. Favourite Track(s): Zombie Least Favourite Track(s): Mistake

I liked it :)

Liked it overall, upbeat, good vibes. Standout song: Zombie

Pepite

Fucking yes man, sitting in sunshine with my 4th pint of the day and this on. Absolutely fucking glorious. What a groove.

Li conoscevo di fama, ma è la prima volta che li ascolto bene. Un misto di sonorità che mi ha colpito da subito. Da riascoltare e approfondire

Grooves all the way down to the floor.

98/100. A masterpiece of texture and rhythm, blending jazz with hypnotic Afrobeat grooves.

I enjoyed this Will I listen to again: 56%

Sounds like halfway through zombie a cat started walking on the keyboard.

It’s fine. It’s jazz, which i don’t care for, but I’ve listened to worse.

fela kuti is held in high regard and it's not hard to see why. funky and jazzy but also with well-written lyrics - it's not like the typical jazz albums i've been exposed to so far.

Jeg nød at tingene fik lov til at folde sig ud, og bare være fede så længe hvert nummer kunne. Besøgstiden for albummet er perfekt for mig, dog var resten af bilen rasende over hvor monotont det var.😅

Afro-Beat kan et eller andet. F.eks. er det ret godt mens man slår græs

It's a really great afrobeat album, the rhythms and beats are highly enjoyable - very good blend of Western African music and funk/jazz. It just draws me in from the first moment. It's a short album with only 2 tracks and 25 minutes - a lot of albums are often too long, but in this case I wish this album was a bit longer.

fun and overall good

Surprised this was controversial. Just afrobeat jazz

Not my cup of tea....

Very talented but not one I would enjoy listening to

Important, absorbing, musical. The beat/percussion really draws in the listener. The title track is a masterpiece. I wish the album were 20 minutes longer—and I never say that.

Fela jak zawsze w formie. Niech świadectwem jego geniuszu będzie to, że zwykle nie słucham takiej muzyki, a i tak, gdy widzę, że się wylosował to wiem, że czeka mnie obcowanie z Muzyką przez duże M. Cudowna jest ta zabawa melodią i dźwiękiem, ta lekkość i swoboda. 8/10.

Nice Jazzy African music

Bros just not for me too long/ too jazzy, theoretically good tho 3/5

a captivating album with tracks that are full of energy and excitement. it's bluesy, jazzy, funky and is rife with innovative melodies. few vocals on most tracks but they're impactful and politically-driven when they appear. reading into the background of the album made its listen very inspiring. will definitely be listening again.

Another album I probably wouldn’t have heard if it wasn’t for this game. Got his combo with ginger baker from wax lyrical last month, enjoyed this too.

not yet

Tried listening, not my thing

Absolutely incredible.

it's really good jazz but not background moody jazz. it's jazz you focus on listening to.

Tough between this and the other Fela album on this list on which I like more. He's got to be up there for one of my favorite international artists. Zombie was so so good and the other track was pretty decent too. It's so fun seeing an album with only 2 songs on it. We wouldn't have Remain in Light without this. An album he could've died for, very deserving spot on the list. Rating: 4.2

Love the fusion of jazz with West African music. Had no idea that was a genre called Afrobeat, so glad to learn that from hearing this. And fascinating that it was so divisive - people loved it and the government hated it. Powerful stuff!

A funk world album is such an awesome combo and I really hope there’s more of it on the list later on mmmmmmm

Political: ✓ Jazz-Fusion Elements: ✓ World: ✓ Album Length: ✓ Great addition to the list, and I wish they put more of this type of music on it.

Second album by Fela Kuti, and yeah: I’m officially a fan. 7/10

Cool african jazz. 4/5

Now that's a groove. I kinda wish the songs were even longer.

I really liked this one especially zombie!

jazzy

Sympa sans être ce que je préfère

Petite touche de soleil dans ce monde tellement morose

Les dieux du générateur sont sont une fois de plus satisfait, continuant le streak de quatre 5 étoiles d’affilé avec le roi de l’afrobeat turbo funk Fela Kuti! Mr Kuti sera aujourd’hui le représentant de l’afrobeat/jazz africain en tant que genre sous représenté de la liste, ayant pourtant contribué au dévelopement du hip-hop et même du disco. Pour revenir sur Zombie, c’est une sorte de transe funky, une méditation par le rythme et un autre chose que j’arrive pas à décrire, en plus d’être un puissant message politique contre la dictature. Bref, c’est toute des affaires que j’aime!

Jazz... but funky. Which makes it a better jazz. I wish I enjoyed jazz more, but generally when I hear it all I hear any more is Andy Samburg in Brooklyn 99: skiddley be bop, jazz! This at least I can put on and find bits I enjoy. The first track in particular is fun, and as people have pointed out, I bet this really shines live. 2.5 rounded up.

I like this one a lot.

A fine album. I enjoyed it a decent amount although I have gotten more enjoyment out of other records from Fela Kuti such Afrodisiac.

One of the best afrobeat albums + it's short. 9/10

3.2! Fun jazzy tunes

Back in highschool I blind-bought Expensive Shit/He Miss Road and loved it. I'd always intended to go back for more but never did until today. Felt like hitting the jackpot when this dropped.

Super politically charged, but made me want to dance. If you make a military protest song and they send the military to bear you and your mother up...you probably hit a strong message with your lyrics. Great work on this. Jazz is normally not the music I just want to vibe to, but this was great. These songs are catchy. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Other than "Zombie" not much else stood out to me, but it was still fun overall! Actual rating...3.5 Liked Song: "Zombie"

Very interesting 3.25

Political jazz that just didn't grab me.

A Nigerian musician, this album criticised the Nigerian Government and is thought to have led to the murder of his mother and the destruction of his commune by the military. Funk / Soul / Jazz / Afrobeat. The opening track (there are only two) Zombie, was a metaphor for the Nigerian military. Greatly influential album for the genre. Amazing musicianship.

Fela still king

Thoughts before listening: Nobody else sounds like Fela, and his sound is certainly one I enjoy. Horn driven funk jams mixing African styles with a psych rock and jazz mentality. Glad to listen to this today. Review: Yeah it's great. I love how the drum beat and bass line tend to remain consistent throughout these songs, even as the vocals and horns weave in and out. That helps to keep this interesting, even with long 10+ minute tracks. In general though, these long songs can get a bit repetitive but that doesn't diminish from just how enjoyable this is. 4-stars

Great grooves. Love the Afro beat stuff more than what sounds like straight ahead jazz - more vocals, less horns would have been even better for me

Sorti en 1977, "Zombie" de Fela Kuti et son groupe Africa '70 est un acte de défiance, un cocktail Molotov musical, un pamphlet politique dont les flammes ont failli tout coûter à son créateur. C'est une œuvre essentielle de l'Afrobeat et de la musique contestataire mondiale, qui mérite amplement sa place au panthéon des enregistrements les plus importants du 20ème siècle. L'album s'ouvre sur le morceau titre, "Zombie", une épopée de plus de douze minutes qui constitue le cœur battant et la raison d'être du disque. Dès les premières secondes, le ton est donné. La batterie inimitable de Tony Allen, véritable moteur de l'Afrobeat, installe un rythme non pas seulement dansant, mais martial. C'est une marche, une cadence hypnotique et implacable qui semble pouvoir durer éternellement. La ligne de basse s'enroule autour de ce squelette rythmique, créant un groove si profond qu'il est impossible de ne pas bouger. Puis, la section de cuivres légendaire d'Africa '70 entre en scène, non pas avec des mélodies douces, mais avec des riffs acérés, des coups de poignard sonores qui ponctuent le rythme avec une précision militaire. C'est sur cette toile de fond instrumentale, riche et complexe, que Fela Kuti pose sa voix. Et le message est d'une clarté foudroyante. Dans un pidgin anglais accessible à tous, il dénonce la mentalité de l'armée nigériane, alors au pouvoir sous un régime militaire brutal. La métaphore du "zombie" est géniale dans sa simplicité et sa virulence. Un zombie n'a pas de volonté propre, pas de conscience, pas de pensée critique. Il obéit aux ordres, sans réfléchir. "Zombie no go go unless you tell am to go," scande Fela. "Zombie no go stop unless you tell am to stop." ("Le zombie ne partira pas si tu ne lui dis pas de partir / Le zombie ne s'arrêtera pas si tu ne lui dis pas de s'arrêter"). Chaque vers est une accusation, une moquerie directe de l'obéissance aveugle des soldats, qu'il dépeint comme des automates sans âme. La musique elle-même imite cette idée : le rythme est répétitif, obsédant, comme une marche forcée sans fin. Ce qui rend "Zombie" si puissant, c'est la fusion parfaite entre le fond et la forme. La musique n'accompagne pas seulement le texte ; elle est le texte. La longueur du morceau, loin d'être un défaut, est essentielle pour installer cette transe, pour faire ressentir à l'auditeur la nature abrutissante de cette obéissance aveugle. C'est une performance qui vous saisit et ne vous lâche pas. Il est impossible de parler de cet album sans évoquer son contexte et ses conséquences tragiques. "Zombie" fut un succès phénoménal au Nigeria. Le peuple a immédiatement compris le message et a adopté le terme "zombie" pour désigner les soldats. Le gouvernement militaire, humilié et furieux, a réagi avec une violence inouïe. En février 1977, près de 1000 soldats ont pris d'assaut la résidence de Fela, la République de Kalakuta, un complexe qui servait de maison, de studio et de refuge. Le lieu fut incendié, les instruments et les bandes maîtresses détruits. Fela fut sauvagement battu, et sa mère, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, une militante anti-coloniale et féministe respectée, fut défenestrée. Elle succombera à ses blessures quelques mois plus tard. Cet événement tragique transforme Zombie : d'une simple protestation, il devient un testament, un sacrifice payé par le sang. L'écoute de l'album aujourd'hui est indissociable de cette histoire. La face B de l'album, "Mister Follow Follow", prolonge la thématique de la face A. Le morceau s'attaque à la mentalité de suiveur, à la conformité intellectuelle et à l'incapacité de penser par soi-même, élargissant la critique de l'armée à une critique plus générale de la société. Musicalement, c'est encore un excellent titre d'Afrobeat, avec des arrangements complexes, un dialogue virtuose entre les instruments et un groove contagieux. On y retrouve tous les ingrédients qui font la magie d'Africa '70. Au final ce sera un 4 sur 5 pour un document historique, une leçon de courage, et une démonstration éclatante du pouvoir de la musique comme outil de résistance.

Really liked this - smooth and jazzy and interesting. Solid and interesting background music I would happily listen to again.

I liked this!

3.5

Perfect amazing kicking off my Afropsychedelic phase

It's mostly interesting as a document of a distant political struggle, though its criticisms are universal enough to be understood by pretty much anyone. The title track is the essence of the album, and it's great - funky and direct, with the timbre of Kuti's voice is such that it comes across exceptionally rich and crisp on record. The rest of the record's 4 tracks never really expand on that though, so if youve heard Zombie youve heard the lot. An appreciative 3* from me.

The revolution has never sounded so jubilant. This is really awesome stuff! Imagine being in attendance at one of these performances. The rhythm on Zombie is infectious. Makes me want to dance - and topple the government.

N.l.

Ciekawe. Niewybitne ale też nie nudne. Taki afrykański jazz? 3/5

The fact that this two track record with some really catchy afrobeat caused this man his commune, his mother and nearly his life is insane. Dissing the military and making it slap; Fela Kuti everyone (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)

PEREZOTEEEEEE

Good album. Way more funky than "Live!".

23/1001 Fela Kuti - Zombie Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Ever since hearing Fela Kuti on 6 Music, I loved his music and this is the only physical album I own of his. The fusion of West African music with jazz and funk work so well together. The vocals on this aren't going to be for everyone, but works for me, in this hyper political album.

Surprisingly really sharp! Enjoyed it more than expected! Give it a listen

It’s not my sound but I recognise the musicianship and support the courage of the protest

70s afrobeat. Funky. Massively political. Brass-heavy jazz. Very long songs. A bit repetitive.

I like to say protest music as a concept is overrated. It merely reflects how people are already feeling, it doesn't spur people to action. But then there's this album which is an obvious counterargument. I think the reason it works is that it doesn't insist on anything intellectual or frivolous. It is fun. It is memorable. Everybody in Nigeria irrespective of tribe or city could sing the words to Zombie because it's so damn simple. It's not a dirge, they know they are better than their oppressors.

Good

The title track is absolutely marvelous. I first heard it on Grand Theft Auto IV on the funk radio station (IF99), way before I really got into music. And I remember liking it, and I still do so that's good after not hearing it for quite a while. Anyways it's a 6/5 star song. 'Mr. Follow Follow' has this amazingly good bassline as well as the trumpet in the first half had me completely entranced for a moment. Also the back-and-forth between the lead vocal and backing vocals is done pretty well. 4.75/5 star song in my opinion.

Makes me want to go sit in a jazz club, I love brass instruments

I really liked the song Zombie then I felt like I kept listening to it the whole rest of the album.

Now this is EXACTLY the kind of thing I expect from a "1000 albums to listen to" list

Jazzy! I like it!

This album is kind of a revelation for me with the list so far. I never in a million years would have picked up an album like this. It made me realize that I’ve been treating these albums as “would I sit in a chair and listen to this album to just enjoy it? Is there meaning to this album to me” when not all albums have to be like that. This album is great for just having on and going about whatever work you’re doing.

Listened on holiday in Crete. Think I can see why many would enjoy but not for me in the same way that jazz isn't. Only four songs, with each over ten minutes long, I just found myself not really listening. I think I struggle without much in the way of lyrics. Ok to listen to but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it.

Bit harsh but overall interesting

Mostly fun and interesting

I like

On an album (?) of just two tracks it was two tracks too many. "Mister Follow Follow" hit my ears as an unwelcome noise until the vocals started, which was 7 minutes or so into the song. One star. Would I listen to this album again? No. Would I but the album? No. 1 "Zombie" 2 Stars 2 "Mister Follow Follow" 1 Star Total - 3 stars Average - 1.5 stars

Super repetitive, but some cool instrumentals

Entertaining, more than I was expecting.

When I saw on Wikipedia that this is afrobeat, I was expecting to sound like Tyla or Burna Boy, but this is jazz with an obvious Nigerian influence. This is normally not my genre, but I actually really loved it. It's great both musically and lyrically. A solid 4/5, could go higher with repeated listens.

Christ, looked at the backstory to this. Don't know if I can separate story from the art here, found it really interesting in that context but don't know if I'd have had as good a time without it?

To my ears this is a perfect blend of jazz and funk. Highly recommend Fela.

really good again. fela kuti is a sleeper star. it’s giving “big band”. big fan of that. 5/5.

Yes

Fantastic, both historically and musically. Zombie!

2.9

2.5 for me, some great music on here but doesn’t half drag on…

Loved this!

My first pick and it was one I knew! Rolled my eyes, but ended up putting it on, in the spirit of the project, and kept it on all day. I mostly listened to this is the mid-aughts and filed it away as great and moved on. It is fantastic. Knowing the back story of Fela and the song only adds because the entire thing stands strong in its own. It was a nice gift to drive around listening to this all day, and not one that I knew I needed.

Yeah

Sad story behind this album, but the beats are great and the heart is big

Funky

There is some music that is just hard to hate (not that I actively try anyway). This is great. Very enjoyable chill music that, despite the long songs, never fills repetitive or boring.

++: Zombie +: Mister Follow Follow 8,2/10

This is an amazing album with wonderful music! You can't really listen to this passively, because the political message gets missed. And the songs go on WAY too long to hold your attention. It is interesting, and very deserving of being on the list.

love this stuff. big fan of the lijadu sisters and william onyeabor and this is more in that same late 70s nigerian vein. 4.5

A little too into the jazz improv space for me personally

4 músicas com 51 min ficou chato demais, o show ao vivo TEM que ser sentado. Não gostei.

Punchy long jazz

I liked this one a tad bit better then the other album Live!

It’s a 5 with and without the bonus tracks for me, its a perfect Afro-beat album and has probably the best (and horrible obviously) contexts to an album I’ve ever seen which really emphasises its message. Overall 9/10.

The don

More fun than I was expecting

Enjoyed some of it, appreciated the jazz and grooviness, not my usual go-to, so its harder to have a stronger appreciation.

Long jazzy

Absolute hell yeah. This is the most fun I’ve had listening to an album on this list in months. (Ignore the fact that we’ve taken a months long break, this album is still an absolute riot to listen to.) It’s groovy, it’s funky, and it’s downright delightful. This is the kind of record you can put on in the background and it immediately makes any task or activity an order of magnitude more enjoyable. The fact that 4 songs can pack in 54 minutes of music, and when it was over I was hoping for more, really says something. I will admit I’m not well versed in.. I think this is Afro-beat? So I’ll save myself the embarrassment of trying to review this from an actual technical point of view, but man was it ever a good time to listen to. 5*

Not only is this a fantastically enjoyable album and one of the definitive afrobeat albums of all time, but this is such an important album. Fela Kuti's mother was thrown from a window and his studio + compound destroyed for the political statements made on this album. About as metal as it gets imo. Musically it's as groovy, jazzy, funky, hypnotic, exciting as you could ask for. It's one of those albums that just has to be experienced and it's exactly the kind of album that this list should be all about. More of this, less stale britpop please.

Day 1 listen & not really my thing, trumpet too blarey However in listening at a different time of day it was better 2nd time round. Unlikely to return, but still good for it's genre.