This extraordinary DVD features Nigeria's explosively charismatic superstar, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, at his very best in this historic concert DVD, entitled Fela in Concert, recorded live in Paris in 1981. Fela was not only the most celebrated African musician & composer of his time, but a revolutionary, cultural, and political symbol whose contributions were often overlooked in the Western world.

The African rhythms of his music were profoundly influenced by the sounds of Jazz icons Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Mile Davis, but equally by the Jamaican Reggae of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Burning Spear, forming a new musical style called Afro-Pop.

As a charismatic performer, keyboard player, saxophonist, & composer, Fela's influence extends outside the limits of rhythm and melody, as he using his music as a canvas to reject the imperial trappings of power. He led a political party in Lagos, named The Movement of The People, and was its candidate in the Nigerian Presidential elections of 1983. Pan-Africanist and libertarian, Fela represented the uprising of Black Africa, both politically and musically.

This historic show was recorded in Paris in 1981 during an exclusive, all-night concert. Punctuated by the exotic and suggestive tribal dances and rituals performed on stage by 15 of Fela's wives, this exceptional event was captured by multiple cameras, enhancing this special DVD presentation.

Fela was a musician, a politician, a spiritual chief, and an agitator all at once, but however one views the man, he was undeniably a symbolic icon of struggle & revolution, as well as one of the most beloved men in Africa. In Nigeria, Fela claimed that he was better known than the President. It was probably true.

Selections include:
Instrumental Solo
Army's Arrangement
Original Suffer Head
Power Show

DVD BONUS FEATURES:
Fela Kuti Biography
Digitally Mastered Audio & Video
Digital Dolby Stereo Audio
Multi-dimensional Interactive Menus
Instant Access to Songs and Instrumental Solos

Average Customer Review: ( 14 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

Yes the music is great, but the sound cuts in and out and the video looks murky. Also, the stage lighting is so dim that you can barely see the horn section, the background singers, or the percussion players. As a result, the cameras focus strictly on what is happening at the front of the stage, basically just Fela and the dancers. It makes the whole experience feel flattened and two-dimensional. You start wondering just what is going on back there in the dark.

Worth buying only as a historical artifact.

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:

Transy Trippy Funky Afro Dance GroovesDec 21, 1999
By Eddie Landsberg "My 10th year as a reviewer ! ! !"
Ever try to imagine whats going on on those tripped out FELA grooves...? When you listen, you imagine a tribal gathering, perhaps even war rally... with fire, dance, soulful rhythms, chief Fela at the helm... This is not far from the truth. While the video is set in 1981 Paris, the energy transcends all time places and cultures. - - Felas stage presence and charisma are mind blowing. Though the band often sounds like a symphony of chaos, great musical moments occur. The depth of Felas solos are easy to miss amidst the synergy. His dancers gyrate on the floor answering his vocalizing in unison... he prowls the stage bare chested with tribal face paints saxophone in hand - - dances, soloing, rarely standing still, the horns accenting the rhythms. - - This IS a FELA album brought to life and an opportunity to look into the eyes of a firey legend and see the sounds that were and are uniquely his and part of an era. Known as THE BLACK PRESIDENT and THE AFRICAN JAMES BROWN, for sure he lived up to his reputation on the night this video was shot. A MUST HAVE is an understatement.

10 of 11 found the following review helpful:

kinda good kinda badJan 14, 2004
By Philip Kavan "Underground Spiritual Game"
I read the above reviews regarding the sound quality and thought "I love Fela; I'm sure I'll enjoy it anyway." So I bought it. Well, never having had the opportunity to see him live, I was happy to see him in action; however, the quality is so horrible I can't imagine watching it again. Not only is the sound muffled, but the camera operator constantly cuts away from what is interesting. There is one segment in particular in which Fela is really getting loose, dancing like some kind of karate rooster, and the camera keeps cutting to the friggin' audience. Man! I imagine if you're into Fela as much as I am, you'll probably wind up buying it anyway. No harm.

7 of 7 found the following review helpful:

Essential!Oct 20, 1999
By Adam Mizelle (adammizelle@earthlink.net)
True-blue Fela fans must buy this video. Be warned that the jacket lists the tunes wrong, listing Original Sufferhead as one of the songs. It isn't there. You wouldn't miss it, as the versions of Army Arrangement and Power Show surpass any recorded version you can find. The first tune is merely listed as Instrumental Solo, and I suspect from discographies I have seen that this is actually Movement of the People Political Statement No. 1, which is currently available on no CD. It's an excellent track, esp. Lekan Animashaun's baritone sax solo.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

Not flawless, but vintage FelaAug 12, 2005
By Julio Punch "Julio Punch"
Don't be put off by the negative reviews of others: this is a unique document of a unique man and musician. This is the correct track listing:

1. Movement of the People Political Statement Number One
2. Army Arrangement
3. Power Show

True, it's not without its flaws: it's not quite up to DVD standard soundwise, though the camerawork is pretty decent. The worst thing is that you're not getting the entire songs outside of Army Arrangement. Power Show has no vocals and if you have the Live in Amsterdam CD Movement of the People Political Statement Number One was a lot longer with Fela doing his famous "underground spiritual gear". It's a shame this was left out, as I suspect it was. The best thing about this DVD is the close-up shots of Fela's amazing dancing wives during Army Arrangement. The other Fela DVD available which is at present very hard to get called Fela Live focuses too much on Fela and less on his dancing wives though it has better sound quality. And if you ask yourself which of the two you should buy. True fans should buy both.

Julio Punch (Webmaster of The Shrine: The Unofficial Website for Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti and Afrobeat Music)

See all 14 customer reviews on Amazon.com