This is the first time an Afrobeat musician of Femi Kuti’s clout will be
aligning with a Nigerian contemporary music award scheme. No doubt, The
Headies, also known as Hip Hop World Awards, is fast becoming a blend
of generational genres of music.
The Afrobeat legend and Grammy nominee, Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti,
popularly known as Femi Kuti, began his international career in 1988
when he was invited by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and Christian
Mousset to perform at the Festival d'Angoulême (France), the New
Morning Club in Paris and the Moers Festival in Germany.
Femi Kuti, in the course of his music career, has shown strong
commitment to social and political causes. In 2001, Femi collaborated on
his album Fight to Win with a number of U.S. musicians, including
Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright. He created his
own band, Positive Force in the late 1980s with Dele Sosimi (Gbedu
Resurrection), former key-board player of Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
“My career is not based on awards. I sincerely mean what I sing about.
My music is truly fighting for electricity, good healthcare service,
good roads, equal education for my people and African unity. It’s
neither a love song, nor commercial and it still gets headlines and good
reviews. I’m especially touched when young people appreciate what I am
doing,” Femi Kuti says.
This will be the first time Femi Kuti will be honoured on Nigerian soil
as he will be inducted into The Headies Hall Of Fame. The Afrobeat
legend says “It’s a kind of privilege, its good. I mean I would drink a
bottle of champagne when I get it, we will celebrate here.”
Ayo Animashaun, executive producers of The Headies is extremely excited
over this year’s line-up of artistes. “Every year, our target is to
surpass our very best efforts. With notable artistes such as Femi Kuti
and many more gracing The Headies this year, our fans should expect to
watch the most exciting awards ceremony to be held in recent times.”
The full list of artistes scheduled to perform at the award ceremony will be announced in due course by the organisers.
Other Hall Of Fame Inductees includes Dayo D1 Adeneye, Kenny Ogungbe,
Phillip Trimmel, Olisa Adibua, Obi Asika, Femi Akintunde Johnson, Sir
Shina Peters and DJ Jimmy Jatt.
Femi Kuti’s Bio
He was born on June 16,1962 in London, United Kingdom. In 2002, Femi's
mother, who had played an influential role in Femi's life, died at the
age of 60. Femi's son,,Made, currently appears as part of his act,
playing alto saxophone.
Also in 2002, Femi contributed a remake of his father's classic song,
"Water No Get Enemy", to Red Hot & Riot, a compilation CD in tribute
to Fela Kuti that was released by the Red Hot Organization and MCA. His
track was created in collaboration with hip hop and R&B artists,
D'Angelo, Macy Gray, The Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, and Roy Hargrove,
and all proceeds from the CD were donated to charities dedicated to
raising AIDS awareness and fighting the disease.
Femi Kuti's voice is featured in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV,
where he is the host of radio station IF 99 (International Funk 99,
described as "playing a great selection of classics from West Africa,
the US and elsewhere"). In similar fashion as his father, there have
been complaints of Kuti's criticism of his homeland Nigeria,
specifically in the song Sorry Sorry.
Femi’s discography
1. FEMI ANIKULAPO-KUTI & POSITIVE FORCE - ‘No Cause For Alarm’ (LP, Album) Polygram, 1989
2. FEMI ANIKULAPO KUTI & POSITIVE FORCE - M.Y.O.B. (LP) Kalakuta Records, 1991
3. FEMI KUTI - Tabu Records, 1995
4. SHOKI SHOKI - Sound Of Barclay, 1998
5. SHOKI (REMIXED) - Sound Of Barclay , 1999
6. TRUTH DON DIE - Sound Of Barclay, 1999
7. SHOKI (REMIXED) - Nuphonic , 2000
8. FIGHT TO WIN - MCA Records, 2001
9. AFRICA SHRINE - MK2 Music, UWe, 2004
10. LIVE AT THE SHRINE - MK2 Music, UWe, Palm, 2004
11. DAY BY DAY - Wrasse Records, 2008
12. AFRICA FOR AFRICA - Wrasse Records, 2010
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