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Seun Kuti lifts off

First album


Paris 

01/05/2008 - 

At a time ripe with retrospectives and anthologies of Nigerian music, Seun Kuti, son of super-famous Fela, has brought out his first album, Many Things. During his stay in Paris, which was delayed for over a fortnight in the quest for an indispensable visa, the son of the creator of afro-beat talked to us unassumingly about himself, his music and his battles.

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Seun Kuti/portrait

The only lead-up to this first, awaited, disc by Seun (pronounced Shayoon) was a maxi record. But the just-25-year-old already boasts a musical career that is enough to turn baby-stars and other celebrity offspring green with envy. From a tender age, he was regularly rubbing shoulders with musicians at his famous father’s concerts, and soon joined the paternal band, Egypt 80, in which his mother Fehintola was a singer and dancer. When Fela died in 1997, he took over the management of his father’s group. It was with Egypt 80 that this youngest of the Nigerian cantor’s three sons honed his own repertoire at the Shrine, the family’s club in Lagos, as well as on stage throughout the world, before entering the studio with his group.

"They’re the best group in the world", he proclaims, with unfeigned innocence and spontaneity. "Egypt 80 is a family. The musicians have been together for such a long time (some for over 25 years, ed. note), that they inevitably have their own ways of working, reactions and sound. I didn’t think twice about it. Why would I have looked elsewhere when I’ve already got the best? " Seun Kuti is not wrong. Particularly since the group, which borrows its name from the writings of the thinker Cheick anta Diop (who also inspired early IAM), has moved on somewhat since the era of Fela’s sound-blasting shows. Baba Ani, for example, the baritone of the saxophones, no longer teases the golden keys on an instrument that he now finds too heavy, but has moved on to the black and white keys of the piano. Like some of the other old-timers, he is still with the group at over 70 years old. Younger members, like the rhythmic section comprising bass-player Kayodé Kuti (no family link) and drummer Ajayi Adebiyi, have come in to join the afro-beat dream team.


Same orchestra, same producer

 

Seun Kuti/pochette

Seun shares more than a passing resemblance with his father, including the second name, Anikulapo, which means "I’ve got death in my quiver". He has the same cheetah-like movements as he paces the stage, the same protesting brio when he harangues the crowd, and even the same producer, Martin Meissonnier. As the central character in the Fela adventure, Martin Meissonier is also at the core of this new adventure and first album. "In fact, I only got to know Martin six years ago, and so well after my father’s death. I know the role he had and his work. It’s not the same as the orchestra, where there is a sort of continuity. It’s him who came to see me. He wanted to work together. I thought about it and I said to myself that if I was going to work with a producer, then it might as well be him."

Such similarities and resemblances should not detract from Seun’s true personality, and the son is not overshadowed by his father’s memory, which he is well aware is still present throughout the world : "If afro-beat is recognised all over the planet today, it’s because Fela had an audience all over the planet!" Like other young starters (Massak, Kokolo, etc.), while Seun defends the rhythmic flights of fancy created by Fela and friends, he veers towards a personal voice starting to affirm itself. One of the great lessons of afro-beat is its work on beat.

Seun talks of his journey with humility : "Afro-beat is not a dynasty. I need to make my place. I’m no leader", he states, letting a "not yet" slip out with his next breath. "It’s the others who are good", he repeats, referring to the musicians and producer who accompany him. He describes his only merit as continuing with his father’s work, not because he is his father, but rather because it provides music and words that Nigeria needs, Africa needs, the world needs. "If you can’t see the truth, you’re being blind", he lets out, his gaze unwavering.


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Seun Kuti Many Things (Tôt ou Tard) 2008

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 will be in concert at the Bataclan, in Paris, on 26 May 2008.

Nigerian music is featured in a series of compilations: Compilation Nigeria 70 – Lagos Jump (Strut Records/ !K7/PIAS) 2008 Compilation Nigeria Special! Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6 (Soundway/Nocturne) 2008 Compilation Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sound of The Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-1979 (Sound Way Records/Nocturne) 2008 Compilation Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-rock & Fuzz Funk in 1970s Nigeria (Sound Way Records/Nocturne) 2008


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Translation : Anne-Marie  Harper