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Those who have followed his career and have experienced his music know this for a fact: Femi Kuti never felt just satisfied with being the King's heir. He freed himself from his father's legacy in '85 by putting together his own band, The Positive Force, and thereby working to find his own voice. He became, during the '90s, a renowned artist in his own right with a distinctive, colorful and balanced style. His new album, “Africa For Africa” goes back to the roots of his music, and was recorded at Decca Studio, the premier studio in Afrobeat’s history. He will tour North America this spring in support of the album. More than just a simple musician, the 48-year old composer has become a true African Ambassador, in its most honorable sense. Femi was in Johannesburg to sing for Africa the opening ceremony for the Football World Cup. There he sang one of his hits "Beng Beng Beng," and took the opportunity to meet a few of the anti-Apartheid heroes. Shortly after, he was heading off to New York to see the famous and very successful Broadway musical about Fela, where he also got to appear on stage, invited by the actors at the end of the show. His venue the Shrine still carries the torch week in week out, so much so it has become one of the only last dynamic temples for live African music. Erykah Badu, Damon Albarn, Hugh Masekala have recently made appearances, as have the Lagos Police, who regularly raid the place, picking up and frightening off the local crowd, as they try to close down this highly regarded resistance venue
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Saturday, April 30, 2011
with DJ WARP
Tickets: $25 - Ages 18 & Over
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
3730 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60613 (Two blocks North of Wrigley Field)
773-549-4140 - http://www.metrochicago.com/
International Afrobeat great, Femi Kuti will drop his long-awaited new album Africa for Africa in the US tomorrow. This time around, Femi took the recording back to Decca studio where his father Fela laid down some of his classics; it's evident from the sound that Femi drew from that inspiration while setting his sound apart with his politically charged lyrics and driving beats.
