Newen Afrobeat with Seun Kuti - Ordinary People (Fela Kuti)

[geardaddy]

Enjoy!

[Pluvious]

1. Wow !! That was one tight jam, mon !!!

Thanks for sharing

[Kind of Blue]

2. Wonderful! I can't think of the best adjective to

describe the feeling. Once upon a time, my late mom and her 4 brothers grew up with Fela. My mom had so many stories to tell of Fela; especially she and her siblings lying to their parents, using night church services , as a cover when they snuck out to Fela's concerts. I remember being awoken to go pick up Fela at the airport in New York back in the early '70s and thinking how rude of them! And he saying, "Let her sleep," when I refused to wake up after the trip. For years I kicked myself for that but then again, I was only 8 or so.

Anyway, I'm so pleased to see his son carrying on the tradition. It just warms my heart seeing him and this diverse crew who obviously understand the music very well. That means a lot to me.

Thank you for posting!

[Kind of Blue]

3. Had to come back to share my favorite Fela

that I always return to remember who we are and what we stand for, "Water No Get Enemy." He speaks Yoruba and translates to pidgin English. I have found this is beloved with our millennial generation, as well.

WATER NO GET ENEMY: EXPLANATION from http://www.jaycookmusic.com/documents/WATERNOGETENEMY.pdf simplest and best explanation to me.

The "water" is the Nigerian common people. The Government/Military
must not make enemies of the populous, nor disturb their "flow"
(endevours & routines)- as it is dangerous to make an enemy of the
country's most essential resource. The people make everything happen.
Nothing exists without water
Water does not gain enemies
because if you fight (renounce)water, you will die
Power cannot exist without the people…

WATER NO GET ENEMY
To ba fe lo weh omi lo- malo <>
If you wan go wash- water you go use
Toba fe sobeh omi lo- malo
If you wan cook soup- water you go use
To ri ba ngbona omi lero lero
If your head be hot- water it cool am
Tomo ba ngagda omi lo- malo
If your child dey grow- water you go use
If water kill your child- water you go use
Tobi ba bwi nao homi lo- malo
Ko sohun tole se ko ma lomi- o
Nothing without water (repeat this couplet)
****
*[CHORUS] WATER, IT NO GET ENEMY - [AFTER EACH LINE]
Oh me a water-o
No go fight am, unless you wan die
I say water No get enemy
No go fight am, unless you wan die
O me a water-o
O they talk of Black-man power
O they talk of Black power, I say
I say water No get enemy
No go fight am, unless you wan die
I say water No get enemy
I say water No get enemy
O me a water-o
O me a water-o
_____________________________________

[green917]

4. My favorite track by the 1 and only Fela also!

This song always evokes a quote from 1 of my non-musical heroes...the 1 and only Bruce Lee:

“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

[Kind of Blue]

6. Wow! I remember so many Saturdays spent at a matine for his

recent and past movies. Years later, our little group of Bruce Lee lovers found that he was an exceptional thinker, too. But I've never connected my love for Fela and Lee before so thanks for pointing out the similarities in their philosophies. Love learning something new every day

[green917]

8. :)

My pleasure!

[geardaddy]

5. Thank you for sharing that!

That is so cool that you have the connection to Fela!

He has three (?) sons I think that are all carrying on his legacy in great music.

[Kind of Blue]

7. No, thank you! I couldn't help but to share.

The last 10 years have amazed me that Fela/afrobeat is appreciated outside of Africa, in the U.S. and some Western European countries. Yeah, I always forget Seun and the whole bunch of kids Fela had. Around 9, I think. I've followed Femi Kuti, I'm sure because we're around the same age and the yearly Felabration festival.