Zombie

Awesome politically-charged record, but I don't see myself revisiting this one often except outside of historical interest

Love it. I know 2 of the 4(!) songs. They just fly by, was very surprised to see the album is almost an hour long

Вроде есть неплохие музыкальные моменты, но уж слишком долгие и однообразные композиции. 5,5 из 10.

Maybe not my stuff.

I did really want to like this album due to the political context surrounding it but it wasn't anything exceptional musically. Musically it provides very little for me with neither of the four tracks being added to a playlist. But the sheer fact that the release of this album lead to his subsequent arrest and the death of his mother at the hands of the Nigerian police instantly makes this a cool album for me. This is a protest album which does the excellent job of demonstrating the struggles within Kuti's home country. Although I am unlikely to listen to it again the context is still incredibly intriguing. 6/10 Cool political context.

One of, if not the, greatest protest albums of all time. It can be hard to strip an albums musical content from the context of when/why it was written, and in the case of Zombie, probably completely unnecessary. I can say with no doubt though that the music stands on its own, and becomes even more powerful when one digs into the context and understands exactly what it meant to release this album and why Kuti felt it was necessary.

definitely recommend reading the wikipedia page as you listen - whoa, what a harrowing story. not my usual type of music but very energetic and politically charged. i enjoyed my time with it.

this was a cool and enjoyable album. long songs but at least they were varied and interesting! favorites: zombie

Sehr nett echt echt sympathisch Die average album quality geht hoch

Nice beat - but long songs and annoyingly repetitive.

An immediate mood booster.

An anti-militarization anthem, “Zombie” grabbed the African continent’s collective imagination with its lyrical urgency and relentless rhythm. Perhaps Fela’s most effective fusion of funk and politics, it confronted Nigeria’s increasingly corrupt, detached government head-on. REBELLION RARELY SOUNDS THIS FUNKY.

No más instrumentales T.T aunque estuvo bien Me estresa que solo canten hasta como después de 7 mins en todo

Interesante Jazz africano supongo

нормалек.

Interesting. Very cool stuff. Holy shit, this first track is so long. 3 stars

Big fan of when this list actually introduces me to new genres and good music instead of yet another boring British album.

Solid beats

Zombie is an album of sonic uprisings. On the surface, it’s an upbeat jam session; in reality, it was a declaration of war against authoritarianism—one that cost Fela dearly. With Tony Allen’s polyrhythmic drumming driving the charge, bold horn blasts, and a female chorus that doesn’t just sing but mocks and taunts, the record turns political protest into an irresistible dancefloor rebellion. It’s a masterclass in Afrobeat, balancing infectious rhythm with razor-sharp critique. Fela Kuti locks into relentless, hypnotic grooves, lacing them with biting satire that got him into serious trouble. The Nigerian military took the bait, responding with brutal violence, proving his point in real-time. But Zombie lives on, its influence rippling through funk, jazz, and hip-hop, and its message still chillingly relevant. Nearly 50 years later, it still grooves, still punches, and still refuses to be silenced.

Love Fela.

i love jazz and i love these songs i find the artistic direction in its entirety very beautiful and i'm glad it made this list!

Insistent funk, obviously a strong influence on Talking Heads, and has a heavy history. Really great.

Still going through it. The voices are distracting, but the political message is certainly historic and interesting to peak into an unknown piece of history I appreciated seeing. Music itself has good jazz, but again the vocals take something from me.

scheiße

zoombie zoombie zoo-o-o-mbie.. nyt ei ole pätkitty lyhyihin paloihin vaan annetaan mestarin mennä minne haluaa.. afrikkabeat kunigas.. kutikuti, kutittaako.. tänne sieltä. kutikuti.. tuuppa vittutännepäin. niih. AINA seitsemän minuutin intro ja sitten lauletaan jalallalallalai lallalalla lallalai USKOMATON CONCEPTI. vähän eurooppalaista sivistyneisyyttä ja afrikkalaista hullunkurisuutta menetelty yhteen tässä heh... ei sanoi ei europeans, aftobeat dis is afro beat.. tajuttu että sinne alitajuntaan niitä influensseja kerääntyy hiljalleen ja hankalasti saa pois heh ei ole helppoa.. zombie

album so good that it makes an entire country mad

Very, very good.

Loved the beats!!

energetic afronigerian jazz music. the original lp only has two big tracks, only leaving around 25 minutes in length. it's probably the shortest album i've listened to so far. despite its length i thought it was pretty nice. kuti was unafraid to speak his mind about the nigerian military, his mainstay track "zombie" literally refers to soldiers as such, mindlessly doing whatever they're told. of course a song like this sparked outrage, with many of kuti's friends and family being attacked. he may have had to pay a price for his critiques, but he wasn't going to let his message fall on deaf ears. it's catchy music that could radicalize.

3/5

Very different listening experience but was surprised by how much I enjoyed it, great music to just have on

First song is an absolute jam, don't really care for the rest of the album

Not my style

I really enjoyed the title track. The rest of it was beautiful in a technical sense but not really my vibe. It was nice to have on in the background this morning as I was waking up but I probably won’t relisten.

I really liked this!

It’s ok - some uniqueness is not enough to make up for sameness.

Powerful, fun, excellent.

Not for me

Awsome

Overflowing with energy. Wonderful stuff

Some really great afrobeat/jazz. Apparently some scathing political themes that got his mother killed and him nearly beaten to death, but not going to be able to dig into that for this review. Ultimately though, while I recognize it's great, it's just not for me. I'm super picky when it comes to jazz (Mostly just like 50's jazz and jazzy conscious hip-hop type stuff), so it just isn't for me.

Vibes. Direkt från början känner man ”jag har ingen aning var vi ska men jag är med till slutet”. Lagom nivå av jazz. Rimligt nog så jag förstår och hänger med, inte för konstigt för att tappa bort mig. Trodde han var alban när jag läste namnet.

Great sounding album from an artist I like.

A great introduction to Afrobeat.

I enjoyed the album, great musicianship, but four twelve minute songs with repetitive lyrics for 3 minutes of them just isn't enough for me. Felt like a live album.

No

Prog soul/jazz. Interesting to listen to.

pretty good but probably wouldnt listen again, as im not the type for long jazzy instrumentals

I'll probably never be the biggest jazz fan, but this was a pretty enjoyable listen. Fela Kuti was so instrumental in bringing African jazz into the mainstream, and you can hear why with this album. Each piece is composed incredibly well. The musicians are top notch, it's really a joy to listen to. A cool listen for sure.

waz not in the mood but nice thing

pretty cool

still funky as hell.

Always interesting to read a bit of back story around an album and this is a wild one. The album that led to his mother being thrown from a window to her death is shocking enough, but Fela Kuti apparently marked the anniversary of this event by marrying 27 women on the same day. Either way, it's a somewhat funky afrobeat/jazz kinda fusion but I didn't really get on with it and don't see myself coming back for it.

Based Afrobeat 🇳🇬

Awesome rock jazz pshyc belnd

Love the sound of this one. It's like a movie soundtrack.

Zombie

Super fun, dance album

Chill Afro-Jazz, nice horns

Bright, wild jazz. Occasional vocals. Good for background and atmosphere. Happy feel.

This is #day179 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... in your head, in your head, Zombie, Zombie, right? It was interesting to discover where Afrobeat comes from, the story behind the album, and its fatal consequences. It appears to be an important record not only in world music but also in Nigerian history. This is when music becomes a weapon of resistance. On the other hand, I felt uneasy learning that the guy had a mass wedding ceremony where he married 27 women at once. It's kind of strange considering his mother was a women's rights fighter. I doubt I'll be coming back to this record anytime soon. As a one-off acquaintance, though, I don't mind it. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day180.

Excellent album.

Pretty trance like

That was fun. A style I wouldn't usually listen to and presumably a really good example

The music is lively and fun. And I can appreciate his contributions to Afrobeat and world music. But more than half of each very long song is music, its almost half an instrumental album. And when he does sing, he has a nice voice and sings well, but it's very repetitive. Best song: Mr. Follow Follow

More fun than I expected!!

Wikipedia’d the album before listening as I had never heard of him and was impressed with the background of the album, and then gave it a listen. Loved it. Both the opening tracks are amazing, but through and through a great first introduction to this genre of music.

A groovy afrobeat sound that features delightfully funky horn and woodwind interplay. If I have only one reservation, it is that the album's tracks begin to drag because each track on average is nearly 13 minutes in length. It is clear that Kuti loved American Jazz. I added the title track to my collection, the cheeky improvised "Taps" tagged onto the outro of the track in particular brought a smile to my face. That very rare protest album that makes sure to entertain first before making any political criticism.

Was just kinda blah for me. Ok as background music but I probably wouldn't actively listen to it.

Gute Musik aber ein Arsch von Mann.

I enjoyed the variety of instruments. (Do I hear english horn in Mr. Follow Follow?) Nice beats and riffs. Has a minimalist feel.

yes

The groove is strong. 5/5 with the historical context, 3/5 right now.

When I saw this pop up I swore it was the second album from him on the list. Now I remember how I heard of him - he was in the rrhof ticket at the same time as Iron Maiden. Anyway I get the talent here. All good glad I listened.

Not my favorite but I feel I've grown for having listened to this album

Pretty nice!

This is African music inspired by funk, a genre that is itself inspired by African music. A weird musical spiral or just cool? Why not both?

This album is a great example of why I wanted to do the 1001-days exercise; the opportunity to hear something that I've previously experienced previously. An artist that I've never heard before, in a genre that is adjacent to other music I like, with catchy hooks, delivering a message. Really enjoyed this album and it will have it playing again in the future.

This album seems like one of the ones that made it here more for historical significance rather than musical treats for the ears. It doesn't sound bad, but it's likely not a top 100 jazz album. It is sad that the USA is going closer towards 1970s Nigeria here in 2025. Not a great time. Made even worse by the fact a musical act today has a lot less cultural significance thanks to the overwhelming amount of content and social attention spans. Overalls a decent album and a more respectable cause. Favorite track "Mr Follow Follow" Bonus tidbit: when I saw the track Mr. Follow Follow I immediately thought of Nigeria due to a car always following the Google camera vehicle on geoguessr. Wonder if that has always been a Nigerian thing. 2/5

Enjoyed it a lot. 4/5.

Epic

Good inclusion - I enjoyed the music, there's an interesting history around it, it's an underrepresented genre, and I wouldn't have encountered it outside this list.

Pleasant enough but not really my thing

This was fine…

Not too many people can make an anti-war album so good the military retaliates against you. Fewer still can do that with an album that sounds this good musically.

The sounds that emanate from Zombie are Kuti & Co. giving a great big jazz-infused middle finger to the Nigerian government, and enjoying themselves whilst doing so. Aside from its politically-charged excellence, it is a straight-piped global translation from Afrobeat groove to the listener’s ears, enabling a ‘get up and dance’ attitude even in the harshest of post-colonial West African political landscapes. Art and musicality through hardship, a concise yet effective punch of jazz to rouse spirits. There’s no better medium.

Afrobeats meet jazz

I really enjoyed this - fun upbeat music, a party for the ears. Reading the wiki and learning the backstory made the record feel sadder though.

Not my favourite of the Fela albums but what a legend.

A true and prolific artist.

haven't spent much time with this area, has a good beat

Day 19: Zombie - Fela Kuti. Zombie is an album by Fela Kuti, who singlehandedly created and pioneered Afrobeat music, and may be the most recognizable Nigerian musician of all time. The album is a very innovative album that explores a plethora of ideas. The album features four tracks. Each of its tracks is longer than twelve minutes. Each track goes in various different directions. The album is politically-charged, as Fela Kuti fearlessly criticizes the military in Nigeria. It is really impressive that an album like this was released back in 1977. This is a very ambitious album. It still holds relevance to this day. It can resonate with people from all over the world. I wish that "1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" featured more albums like this, for I'd rather listen to this than generic Britpop. Personal Enjoyment: 5/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 5/5.

Eh, it’s ok. The better of the afrobeat albums, but just ok.

Honestly pretty good jazz album

When I was younger, I spent a lot of time at a hookah bar in Ohio. The owner played nothing but Fela Kuti, so FK hits a very specific vibe for me. I can’t imagine how incredible this would have been to see live. These songs are each an odyssey, ten minutes of crazy drums and horns, introduce Fela and his back up singers, and rinse and repeat all day long.

Correcto

I love long songs. I love everything about this. Favourite songs: first and third. Overall around 8/10

This is not my thing at all, yet it’s a fun listen. It’s a protest album with powerful lyrics, strong energy, and great music throughout. It’s fun. Favourite song: Only 4 to choose from but it is easily Zombie Least favourite: Everything was an easy listen with some great beats. Album artwork: Cool cover

Short Sweet Decent 3

Really enjoyed this, and one of the few on this list that was actually too short! There were bonus tracks, but I typically only listen to the original releases.

Even if you avoid political music you should listen to this one. Passionate and powerful.

That was weird but cool

Great music, easy listening. Wonderful rhythms.

This album was a fun ride. I was really surprised that there was only 4 songs, but I got so much out of those 4 songs that by the end of them I was craving for more.

Соу соу, для фона

The album that made the Nigerian government so mad that the Nigerian army invaded and destroyed Fela’s commune and murdered his mother?!? Whatttttt????

I absolutely love Fela and the genre he pioneered, Afrobeat. This album is an excellent choice—it not only highlights the vibrant music but also delivers his powerful sociopolitical messages. It's both deeply moving and incredibly impactful.

Funky Afrobeat with sprawling jams. High energy, good recording, and despite the nearly indecipherable lyrics enjoyable to listen to because the passion of Kuti expresses what needs to be conveyed.

better then i was expecting. don't think i'd revisit it.

Like the other Fela Kuti, this one surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. It's very funky and fun and I'd listen to it again.

Too much fela kuti lately. Its fine. Not sure how groundbreaking it is.

What a fantastic album. Such a great listen, thoroughly enjoyed.

Phenomenal. I saw Seun Kuti perform this year and it was just as fabulous.

I didn't mind it but it's not something I'd listen to deliberately.

This was really good

Jag gillade verkligen detta, att höra historian bakom det gjorde det ännu bättre. Rätt kort(25 min) men jag är oftast inte så stort fan av sådan här musik så tror det hjälpte mig förstå verket.

Never going to be in the mood for this but a good example

the horns are crazy

Honestly a fantastic album, much better than I anticipated going into it

Definitiv coole Musik, sehr groovy und der Jazz-Band-Vibe mit vielen Instrumenten, den Akkordfolgen und verschiedenen Soli obendrüber gefällt mir. Allerdings finde ich die Songs sehr repetitiv, da die Akkordfolgen, über welche soliert wird, eher invariabel und harmonisch nicht wirklich interessant sind. Beim Live-Stück finde ich es sehr interessant zuzuhören, wie sie etwas Zeit brauchen, sich aufeinander einzustimmen und rhythmisch zusammenzufinden.

Loved how fun and jazzy this little album was

liked it,

First time of listening to this album and I am impressed.

Perfect. A true genius and an album of defiance.

Yeah! Nice! I never had listen or heard about afrobeat before, but that was a pleasent surprise! Another good discovery from the 70s! 5 stars today!

"The album criticised the Nigerian government; and it is thought to have resulted in the murder of Kuti's mother Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and the destruction of his commune by the military." Puts records like Keane's Hopes and Fears into context.

As ever, energetic vibrant & so danceable, would have loved to have watched them all live in a sweaty smokey club.

Mesmerising Tantalising

Fav song: Zombie I was initially very apprehensive after seeing the length of the songs on this album but was SUPER surprised by it. I just wish there was more!! So much respect for waiting 8 minutes before the vocals start. Great fun to listen to from start to finish.

3.5

3.4.

When I was in grad school I saw the musical Fela. I wish I listened to some of the music beforehand (or since). The sound is intoxicating. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

thikai cha kyare

A really interesting sound- I enjoyed the blend of jazz and afro beat. I can see how this was an influential album on the Afrobeat genre as a whole. Overall- solid album

Vibing

Enjoyed listening to this album while wondering why there are not more like this on this list. Thr afro-world beat was a nice change from the pop that is a mainstay of this list.

I found nothing to dislike about this album, and I thought the vocals were the best parts. It's just not my kind of music.

I like the afrobeat sound but it got boring

Very fun listen, even better than the last one, it is a bit short thought with only 2 songs on the original release.

Better than his last album even. Very fun genre good plate-loading music

man the horns on this album grabbed me. seeing 4 tracks at a total of 53 minutes made me a bit worried, but man does it fly by. Had a great time with this, not a moment was I bored.

Now that’s some afrobeat!

A bit short as an album, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Sort of ska reggae

Some really cool parts, some questionable parts.

「Zombie」很有趣，前面的簧樂不用說，後面人聲的部分很吸睛。這張專輯裡特別注意到簧樂的部分，很突出。

get their ass Fela!!!

I listened to this my first go round. It's interesting but not something I'd listen to again.

Surprisingly excellent!

It's a jolly bounce and it's the source of Afrobeat. For that it gets a middling score. I wouldn't listen to it again.

Long tracks, feels like Latin jazz mixed with second line. Great solos!

I enjoyed this while making dinner tonight. Did it change my world and perception of music? No. But it was a fun listen.

Afrobeat. Entretenido. Venga, un 4.

Le iba a dar un 2, porque era un poco rollo, pero resulta que son los de Time Of The Season.

absolut, absolut

Very cool and much different than nearly everything else on this list. The music in a vacuum is great, but with the tragic context, this is very cool shit.

loved this

I really the jazz instrumental on this album mixed with Fela Kutis vocals, it's very groovy and it's a good album to just chill too. Only problem i have is that the songs are too long... now I dont mind longer songs but songs on this album dont really go anywhere... the instrumental stays the same through out the whole song with maybe one or two new instruments added 9 minutes in... (almost each song is around 12 - 13 minutes long), or maybe a solo somewhere sprinkled in the song but other then that I really like the album but probably won't listen to it again or add any of the songs to my playlists. 6/10

Very listenable, essentially single track album.

Fun, groovy, interesting world jazz music

I like that the challenge suggested this and Machito one after another, a great couple of records to clean the house

Fela is always great. Zombie is a classic track and I have always enjoyed this record. Listened to the extended version with the bonus tracks on streaming. Great record.

Great, not listened before, liked it very much.

barring the insane political context of this album, this is a magnificent piece. very intricate, complex, demanding of attention on a solemn listen, yet catchy, energetic, danceable, and charged with righteous anger. this feels like a cultural monument, and it fills me with endless fascination that i couldn't realistically do justice by talking about it in a condensed one-day format of this challenge.

Cool. "Nigerian afrobeat" from 1976. Tons-of-instruments prog, that I thought of Jazz first, but it's got a more big band, 1970's beat (as in, an actual beat whereas Jazz may not have that) to it. Like a 1970's rhythm. They're 12+ minute prog songs, but the center section verse-like parts with lyrics can be sung along with. It also sounds like absolutely nothing I listen to. 3.5? Round down, because it's so out of my range of taste I doubt I'd ever want to listen to it again.

Fascinating history behind this incendiary album. Powerful music.

Really liked this. Great focus music.

Couldn’t help but get into this with the beats and rhythms, doesn’t feel like almost an hour at all. Really enjoyed this one!

I really liked this album!

I was introduced to Femi Kuti earlier in this list, so was excited to see what his dad had to offer. The African - jazz fusion is great, but reading the story about this album is the cherry on the cake.

long time favorite I love Nigeria

Nice if not my thing.

3.5 good solid album.

love all the different genre fusions going on, really good stuff

Interesting acrobat jazz. I liked it

Fun Caribbean jazz album

Super fun. Reminded me of something that a Martin Scorsese soundtrack would introduce me to.

It's decent? More background music than an active listen for me. Didn't hate it. Didn't love it.

Stuck between reserved respect and sheer indifference. Nothing this jazzy could be totally boring but not only do the songs linger on but they all sound the same/follow the same structure…

Loved, 🧟‍♀️

right up my street this, need to dive deeper into fela's stuff best song: mistake worst song: n/a

Groovy

This was a relaxing listen. I had it on in the background of my workday. It didn’t have the quality standouts like the earlier album featuring Ginger Baker. This ain’t no Ye Ye de Smell.

Aside from the tragedy, death and destruction experienced as the result of this album being made, it didn’t quite live up to the earlier live Fela album on this exercise.

Did not expect a second helping of Fela Kuti in this exercise. While I really enjoyed the first one we got (the live album), this one didn’t leave me feeling the same way. Maybe just not enough to this one (side story aside…)

Popped this on while taking a jog. Zombie was actually really nice to run to. I enjoyed this but it did drag a bit. 3.25

Didn’t enjoy this as much as the first Fela Kuti album but still solid. Was shocked to read about the Nigerian government’s response to the album. Tragic. 3.5/5

A really good album with some fascinating history behind it. The world needs more musicians like this.

Ну не мое совсем, афро бит

This guy's lore is so fucking fire. Man was a political activist against the corrupt government (who after his repeated criticisms raided his commune, destroyed his shit, beat his ass close to death, killed his mom, and after all that bullshit still kept making music for the people), had over 20 wives, and made some amazing politically charged music that inspired a nation. This album being the main reason why he was raided and attacked by government also resulting in the death of his mother. Absolute legend among men. Top 3 Favorites: Zombie, Mistake, and Mr. Follow Follow It's all gas 4.75/5

energetic pop/rock filtered through african-inspired sounds. interesting listen.

African Jazz. Not my thing.

Did start to get a bit blinding ... you know, like when a fireworks display goes on way toooo loooooong. And actually, all the whizzes and bangs actually just make one appreciate the quiet darkness of the sky. Accomplished in many ways. And the last track seemed like a sort of Doors/jazz sandwich. Extra star for the last track.

I love the rhythms!! I got into Afrobeat via The Good, The Bad and The Queen a few years ago and Tony Allen who plays on this. It's a great groove and Fela was clearly important musically and politically, although it seems he was an odd character too. Is it wrong to compare with Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Misty in Roots? If they came together at a festival back then it would have been amazing. Was heading for 4 stars but just dragged on too long.

A cool dive into the origins of Afrobeat. Really interesting to see how the genre has transformed over the years. Did enjoy the grooves a lot. By the looks of it, the average song length here equates to the average number of wives that Fela Kuti had at any given time 🤔

Can hear the influence on Talking Heads here, particularly in the first track. Really strong start to the album but unfortunately it gets a bit boring towards the end.

It's okay as background music but really doesn't interest me so 2 stars or D.

5/10 I'm glad I listened. I like it. 11-12-2024

Det här kan jag absolut inte lyssna på. Jag bedömer bara på känsla här så det blir en 2a för jag gillar det inte. Men gillar man jazz är det säkert en 5a.

Lite skönt sound ändå. Energi och känsla. Men i slutändan räcker det inte så långt. Rent "bakgrundsljud". Inget jag skulle lyssna aktivt på.

Bra fart och lite kul lyssning, men generellt är inte det här en genre jag är helt såld på. Tycker det blir lite för hetsigt och stressigt emellanåt, men gillar samtidigt energin så blir en svag trea.

I don't think it is really for me

I'm not a fan of Jazz, but I like Afrobeat. Not sure if the politics of this album is partly responsible for its inclusion in this list, but I'm not complaining. Liked it.

Zombie by Fela Kuti is a funky, politically charged Afrobeat classic. It's a groovy protest song with a biting critique of the Nigerian military regime.

It is a very unique experience, and the length of the songs only contributes to the build-up of so many different layers of sound.

Boh

About halfway through Zombie I was ready to declare this a 5-star album. It is easily one of the best jazz fusion songs I've ever heard. But, just like football, a game lasts four quarters. And in this case, it cost Fela Kuti the game. While I was completely in love with Zombie, it was discouraging that the rest of the album essentially followed the same formula: James Brown-esque funk guitar riff, add a thumping baseline and rhymic drums, and then some horns that would make Dizzy Gilespie's hair raise; about halfway through the song, come in with a repetitive African chorus. It's good. Don't get me wrong. But it felt too much "rinse and repeat" to make it a 5-star for me. Plus, each song just seemed like an inferior version of the previous one and went on for far too long. I don't know if the songs actually got worse or if it was just the result of me growing tired of the formula. Still, a must listen for jazz fans and an album worthy of this list. By the way, don't forget to read his unhinged bio on Wikipedia.

Afrobeat protest jazz, yes please!

Christ: 4 songs, 53 minutes Groovy tho Overall good background music, but I wouldn't particularly listen to it for its lyrics lol Apparently Fela's ideas found their way into acts like the Talking Heads, which is cool. A Nigerian musician, producer, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader, he did a lot and was massive in the 70's. Did a lot of political writing in his lyrics, both about the USA and his home country. He was apparently incredibly popular with Nigeria's poor. After he returned home after touring the US, he took on the name "Anikulapo", meaning "he who carries death in his pouch", which is metal as fuck. Since his lyrics reflected ideals that were against Nigeria's "military junta", they tried to silence him, starting from when he arrived back to Nigeria all the way till his death. They hounded him, jailed him, harrassed him, and nearly killed him in an attempt to silence him. 1,000 Nigerian soldiers attacked his compound in 1977 (the second government-sanctioned attack), where Fela suffered a fractured skull and other broken bones. His mother was thrown from an upstairs window, a fall that would later kill her. The soldiers set fire to the compound and prevented firefighters from helping. His recording studio, all his master tapes, and musical instruments were destroyed. He started his own political party, the "Movement of the People", and at the turn of the decade he renamed his band from Afrika 70 to Egypt 80 (Very creative). He prospered while Nigeria was under civilian rule, but after military rule returned he was sentenced to ten years imprisonment, starting 1984, on charges of currency smuggling. He was freed in 1985 with help from Amnesty International. Fela was also known to be just extemely sexist. So far from progressive when it came to relationships with women or any form of patriarchy. I'm not sure how, as his mother was one of Nigeria's early feminists. He died in 1997 due to complications with AIDS, his death being described as: the silencing of a musical and sociopolitical voice on par with Bob Marley. Credit to "John Dougan, Rovi" for information

First 2 are peak. Last song is amazing. third one, well..... Observation is no crime is the only one I didn't really like. As these songs are long, this doesn't really affect the others, but I feel like this brings down this one. Everything until the 7 minute mark for me just felt slow and boring, due to how long it went of for. Everything after the 7 minute mark is peak tho, just the first half the song I feel just brings this album down As 3.5 of the 4 songs in this album are fucking AMAZING, I would give it 9/10. but i cant, so 4 stars :D Not perfect

I like this album's vibe sooo much. It is jazzy and makes me happy. I even danced in some songs while I was listening. I wanna listen this album again.

Zombie çoh iyi. Şarkılar uzun ama anlamıyorsun 15 dk olduğunu; değişiyo dönüşüyo, hojdır.

Felt the rhythm in my bones

A solid album. Great instrumentals, but not particularly ear catching. The lengthy tracks make it hard to pick a fave, as overall I liked bits and pieces from each one. I'll go with 'Observation No Crime' though.

I like how it flows. The rhythms, the horns, the groove. Lovely stuff. I imagine it was brilliant to watch live.

Lively, inspirational, beautiful. So many elements to Fela’s music and this record is no different. Each track has its own mood and really capture the attention of the listener. Such a festive and beautiful harmony.

One of the best and most surprising discoveries on this list to date. Who would have thought that Nigerian Funk-Soul-World-Jazz would go so hard? Only four tracks, each one distinct and while "Zombie" is the clear highlight to me, each one of them is enjoyable and fun. Perfect for cooking. The Afrobeat influences make the whole thing weirdly danceable and catchy. The long jazzy instrumental passages in the first half of the songs are varied, exciting and groovy in themselves and then vocals also come into play. Apparently, the album criticized the Nigerian government; and is believed to have led to the murder of Kuti's mother and the destruction of his commune by the military, which is sad but also Metal as fuck.

Damn, Fela. I was unfamiliar with your game. This shit slaps

great jazz. my roommate's dad actually recommended the title song to me a few weeks ago and it was great. 8/10

Some good jazz with lyrics. Spacious. Not much to say about it besides that. Standouts: Zombie and Mistake.

Interesting jazz fusion but became a bit tedious

Zombie on Halloween!!!

Tribal africano y jazz, fusión de obligatoriedad, en este caso, creo con dominancia netamente africana . No es lo que amo del jazz concretamente, aunque no niego sus raíces. No es mi búsqueda y confieso que es la primera vez que leo y escucho algo de Fela Kuti.

Love it. Zombie is a great track 4/5

A great mix of political criticism and good music.

Loved this album. Great African jazz and I wish this list had more of this kind of thing. I know it's not for everyone, but the musicianship, energy, and passion in this album is undeniable. 5/5

I got veeery into Fela back in the late 90s early 2000s bc his son Femi was doing loads of touring and I used to go and see him and his band all the time when they came to NYC - often til 3,4 in the morning - they were such a force! still have a flyer on my fridge for one of his shows in Bklyn : ) I actually won Fela's discography in a contest so I know his work very well - my faves often include his fantastic collabs with Ginger Baker, not this album. But man was he a force

This one jumps into your soul. I repeated it a few times throughout my day, and it added energy...I was plugged in.

The energy and effect of the title track alone warrants a listen - and repeated listens - to this album. A song that is truly larger than music. Even when he pulls the tempo down the energy is mesmerizing.

The fact that this album started a political revolution and got hia.mother murdered is wild. Good stuff though!

Another Fela Kuti! So far we've seen 2 Fela Kuti's but nothing from The Beatles, Elvis, or Led Zeppelin. 1001 is a long list, so let's see how it looks at the halfway point. But that seems like too many, or at least too many relative to the dearth of entries for the best-selling musicians of all time. It's fine, pleasant enough, I didn't regret playing it. It's not exactly jazz, more like fusion. It's basically just groove music, they get an idea going and just hang on it, then there's some vaguely jazz-like soloing. The lack of changes and the fact that generally only one instrument solos is in my mind what makes is not exactly jazz. Even when searching for something like this, I probably would not put this on again. Maybe this an unfair comparison, but I don't really see what the advantage of this is over e.g. Herbie Hancock or Chick Corea. I guess if you're listening to this all day maybe those other guys get boring.

Straight banger

I really appreciate a political album that can make us dance.

I enjoyed listening to this album but I think I enjoyed reading about his life more! 27 wives? Wow. I shall certainly check so if his other stuff.

Probably the best first listen I've had so far. I don't know how often I'm going to listen to 12-minute Afro-Beat songs but I'll enjoy it when I do. 9/10

Gets a bit tiring after a while, no?

Songs are too long

Funky, experimental jazz

JAZZZZZZZ!!!!

Phenomenal horns and saxophone in these bangers. For all the drama and odd cultish behavior from Fela and his followers, he sure makes some good tunes. Best of the Black President is a great compilation of his works, that showcases a lot more than a couple tracks.

Very cool listen. The story behind this album is super interesting, too.

Musically good but won't listen again

Pretty fun

Would love to listen to this again but high as fuck. Even on a long relaxing drive. I probably would not listen to it on my daily music consumption, but it does have a specific vibe it fits well with that jazzy afrobeat sound.

This is undoubtedly an impressive album but would not listen to it again. I cant relate to the artist and the music is reflective of the politics in Africa to which i have zero knowledge of. All in all its good just not my cup of tea.

I want more

Interesting, pleasant, but not involving. 5/10

Funky goodness

- Not familiar with Afro beat, but this is slick as hell. I feel like I just fell into a heist movie. - A mixture of jazz, funky, soul, and West African influences? Sign me up. - The first track (the titular "Zombie") goes hard--it is 5 star level music. The rest of the songs do not quite live up to the infectious nature of that song, but I appreciate the overall groove of this album. - Do yourself a favor and look up Kuti's activism, including the history of this album. Wow.

Inject it. Love me some Fela Kuti now. This one slaps as well, but I don't think it's musically as strong as Live! Having said that, the context of this album. I looked it up and it is mental. The Nigerian government literally threw his mum out a window and killed her because he criticised them in music. And then he just kept making critical music! There is a lot of great anti-establishment music in Western art, but we are very privileged that musicians from those parts of the world don't have to worry about severe consequences from free speech, getting banned from a radio station is like the worst outcome . It's like safe mode compared to what artists like Fela Kuti have to endure. 7 / 10

feels like a huge cornerstone of the jazz fusion stuff i listen to & ive never heard of fela kuti until now !! observation no crime stands out 4 me very good when i'm listening/remember to put it on but also feels like some of the songs are hard to stick in my brain/re-listenability is a bit questionable. time will tell

I would passively listen to this any time

This was a fun one to listen to on a Saturday morning while making pottery. I like this genre a lot but prefer some other albums of the era to this one. I can see where he influenced a lot of people. Not sure I would listen again in its entirety but would pick a song out to put on a playlist.

I can't say I'm a fan of his son, so why would I be a fan of him?

Cool African groove!

Muito foda o contexto social e político envolvido por trás. Não só isso, musicalmente falando o álbum é um espetáculo. Conhecer o gênero Afrobeat foi magnífico, além de expandir meu gosto para o jazz, que eu comecei a apreciar recentemente.

Perfect for overthrowing dictatorships AND Saturday evenings at a cocktail bar

I respect the background of this album, but it is just not my kind of music.

Na een eerdere plaat nog meer Afrikaans vrolijk getoeter, met koeienbel nog wel. Niet eerder werden zombies zo blij bezongen, denk je dan. Tot je leest dat het allemaal razend kritisch op de lokale politiek is bedoeld. Dat haalde ik er met mijn Westerse oren niet uit.

Ik word wel vrolijk van dit getoeter. Het tweede nummer geeft me zelfs een beetje een Efteling gevoel. En natuurlijk, het is echt niet heel gelikt. Maar je vergeeft het heel makkelijk. De zang in nummer 3 zit me wat in de weg, maar het breekt wel even en ik lees dat ze nogal een boodschap hadden. Al met al een bovengemiddeld luisterplezier en iets wat ik zonder de 1001 nooit luister. 3.5 ster.

We hebben eerder een album van Fela Kuti gehad en toen was ik positief verrast. Ik kan nu niet meer zeggen dat ik verrast ben, maar ik vind het nog steeds lekker vrolijke muziek. Ondanks de blijkbaar nogal maatschappijkritische teksten die een stuk minder vrolijk zijn. De muziek is meer dan 50 jaar oud en toch klinkt het niet gedateerd. Het kan aan het genre liggen natuurlijk. Of dat ik daarbij de kwaliteit van de opname minder opmerk. Maar toch vind ik dat altijd knap. Ik luister dit met redelijk veel plezier en zou er weinig moeite mee hebben het nog een keer op te zetten. Dan verdient het gewoon 4 sterren.

Already heard it, easy 5/5

I would rate the album itself between 2 and 3 stars. Although especially in this case I have a hard time separating the artist from the record. I have to appreciate his courage criticizing the government and the consequences he had to face. But his views on women etc. destroy his otherwise praiseworthy ambitions.

Great music. Love it.

WOAHHHHHHHHH Title track is INSANE. Love the buildup with the flowy jazz and then the rich singing. It's just so melodic. I really want to listen to his other stuff bc of that. Second track I thought was a little slower, but still really damn good. Learning about the history and aftermath of this album was also very interesting, made me want to learn more about Nigerian history.

unstoppable joy 10/10

This is how you do a 4 track album. Varied, interesting, catchy and fun

Fun to listen to on a long drive home. 3/5

Fela Kuti kind of reminds me of an African Curtis Mayfield. The music was good, particularly the title track, but to be honest it fell into the background for me after a while. I don’t think I was in the right mindset for this genre today. I have respect for it but this was a one time listen.

Fela is a genius and a political revolutionary. This is an awesome album with jazz, afrobeat, and politics all mixed into one package. I'm wondering if they will not have "Water Got No Enemy" since it is technically a single. This may be the only Fela entry in 1001. So, while I wasn't familiar with Zombie before this listening and I dig it a lot, it is not as good as "Water Got No Enemy" so I'm going to bump this one up to 5-star by including "Water Got No Enemy" into this rating. Otherwise, Zombie is added to the rotation and earns a 4-star rating. Cheating, I know but I had to get my love for that song in.

Uallalu!!!

This was really good. The instrumentation was interesting and enjoyable. I could've gone for less singing, but it was still decent. 4.5/5

got really bored NNN

3.5/5. This dude married 27 wives, was extremely critical of the Nigerian military which might’ve led to his mother’s murder.

Seems pretty standard Fela stuff

The cultural significance of this is lost on me, so all I have to go on is the music, and that does nothing for me, I'm afraid. But it's far from the worst I've heard on this journey!

Zombie starts well, a ton of energy and a bright, colourful sound over the top of some deep and politically charged lyrics. Would be an easy 3 if it carried on thar way throughout but it quickly drags, songs going on for far too long without doing enough to keep my attention. Drops it to a 2, disappointing because the first song was strong.

This starts brilliantly, a cool beat behind it, fun sax, and some real feeling in the lyrics. I like it a lot, but it's too much of the same thing, meandering around over and over, and that stops it from getting a properly good score. 3/5.

4☆/5 10.09.2024

I liked the music a lot, but I felt the vocals were unnecessary. I also realized at the third song that they were all structured the same

Eh, just keeps going and doesn't do anything to even remotely hold my interest.

Perfectly lovely

I wasn't expecting to like this, but I did. The story of what happened because of this album is crazy!

Zombie

A cheerful album - enjoyed it a lot

That was a fun find!

Rockin'. He's always good for vibes.

I can, without a doubt, say it’s the greatest Nigerian, anti-government, Afrobeat album I have ever heard.

This was groovy. Nice bakground working music.

For an album that is supposed to be so political in nature it is surprisingly upbeat in tone. It’s listed as “fusion” but I found it very “jazzy”. It is not I what I would consider regular listening material but it was enjoyable

Wat een vent joh

This is the 3rd album from Fela Kuti/son Femi I've gotten in a pretty short run of albums. The afrobeat genre is fine, but it kind of all sounds the same to me. This is one of those albums that is fine to listen to, but is really only included in the 1001 albums list due to historical and cultural significance. All these years later, that is lost on me. Based on the music alone, I don't mind listening to this, but it is not something I would come back to.

I am scoring this as someone who is not really a fan of jazz. I am pleased I listened to this knowing the political context as that added another layer. For me, as someone who isn't a massive fan off jazz, I would have preferred the instrumental parts of the songs to be shorter to get to the lyrics sooner as once we were there, I loved this. I appreciate this is a me problem rather than a critique of the album. I am grateful for the learning that listening to and understanding the context of this album gave me.

I really liked this album, but doubt I will be coming back to it. It's really interesting, and very different, but just didn't hit me. But I am VERY certain it has an audience that loves it. That's why it will be getting a four.

This was surprisingly great!

Jazzy ambient music

Enjoyed this. Good working music. 7/10

This is the second album I got from Fela Kuti. I got to admit, the first album (Fela with Ginger Baker Live) immediately impressed me, but with this one I was initially put off, I don't know why. But I kept listening, and I have to say that I like this album too! The music is usually not my piece of cake, but boy if you listen carefully you cannot avoid to appreciate it. Favourite song: Zombie

3 - 4: Virtuos arrangierter funky Disco- Jazz mit loungiger Afro- Prägung; Respekt, aber nicht meins.

Rating: 9.5/10 Rated original LP. Amazing combination of jazz and African rhythms, the vocals accentuate the music so much as well.