Grandson of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, son of Femi Kuti, the young Madé Kuti must necessarily feel the weight of the heritage on his shoulders. And yet, he manages to impose, without effort, his expressive force and a relevant discourse, totally adapted to his time and his generation. He does not refute the spirit of rebellion that accompanies his thinking, but he is aware that he is living in 2022. His convictions and his personal choices belong only to him and determine the meaning of his artistic and civic commitment. While the exhibition “Fela Kuti, afrobeat rebellion” is currently being held at the Musée de la Musique in Paris, Madé Kuti’s chosen words invite us to examine our conscience.
On October 8, 2022, Madé Kuti delivered a particularly invigorating performance at the Philharmonie de Paris in front of an audience amazed by the afrobeat passion of this emerging artist. If France then discovered a new member of the Kuti family, the supporters of the Nigerian social revolt already knew that this young talent was going to conquer the hearts of thousands of fans. He was also in good school by observing, from an early age, the prowess of his father, Femi Kuti, on the stage of the Shrine, this legendary club in Lagos where Fela wrote history in the 70s. And when came the moment when Madé had to invest this very symbolic place, on September 25, 2022, the emotion was palpable: ” It was an important date for me because I am a child of the Shrine. All my childhood, I saw my father perform there 4 times a week. He could play for 6 hours. I was going to school, he was on stage; I was coming back from school, he was on stage. He put all his energy into these performances. He never passed on the torch to anyone for decades. The only times he missed the opportunity to perform at the Shrine was when he was traveling overseas. Besides, he arranged for his absence to be as brief as possible, a week at most! Therefore, having the privilege of succeeding him and having his confidence is an honor because holding this mythical stage is not given to everyone. When I was little, the “Sunday Jump” was the unmissable event at the Shrine. Every day of the week was set aside for rehearsals, but Sunday you had to be ready. We put on our best costumes and the musicians put on a show! Being today’s master of ceremonies means a lot to me… And I’m sure it means a lot to everyone who saw me grow up in this legendary place. I will never forget this incredible day”.
Madé Kuti necessarily carries within him the cultural traditions inherited from his elders, but his message is less harsh. He intends to appease the spirits by seeking harmony and understanding between the citizens of the world. He is not blind and deaf to the aspirations of his contemporaries, but he observes discouragement and apathy. So he vows that his music will bring some hope and comfort: ” When you live in a country like Nigeria, everyday life pushes you to think differently. There is a toxic thought that determines your behavior. It’s very depressing. You constantly feel like there are no solutions to your problems. You feel that the challenges are insurmountable. Currently, in Nigeria, everyone is looking for a way to escape this social pressure. We no longer seek solutions that would allow us to live in harmony. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope that I constantly have in me. I try to stay positive, more for those close to me than for myself… I have two brothers and 4 sisters, all younger than me, and I’m thinking about their future in Nigeria. I can’t bring myself to accept the fact that they may live in a worse country than today. If I do not keep hope and if I do not play a positive role, I will have failed in my life as a citizen. That’s how I see things.”
Fela was a fighter. Femi is a rebel. What will become of Made? By focusing our attention on his declarations, diplomacy seems to guide his personal and artistic choices. He does not experience the relentless harshness of Nigeria in the past and is fully aware that his present is less oppressive and unsustainable. His positions are, in fact, less radical and intransigent. He acquired a temperance which distinguishes him from his ancestors. “I think Femi taught me to be a diplomat. When I was younger, my father lived his daily life very intensely. A bit like Fela by the way. When Fela symbolically carried the coffin of trampled justice in front of the seat of the military government after the burning of his property called “Kalakuta”, my father Femi was at his side and also took the blows of armed repression. He knew prison. He had to face acts of violence very early in his life. So I’ve seen his behavior change over the years. When he was 30, he was strict, stubborn, he didn’t talk much. Today, at 60, he is very friendly. So he taught me that we could evolve, that we could have compassion. I consider myself to have been perfectly educated. No one lied to me about my origins, about the fight that my elders led. It’s not something you learn at school, so it’s difficult for me to pass on this knowledge to those around me. You have to be patient, show understanding, accept compromises. These are human values that my father transmitted to me. If I hadn’t had this education, today I would be a rude young man, unable to understand his time. Let’s be very clear, I’m not trying to water down the message I’m transmitting to my contemporaries, I’m not evading problems, I’m looking for solutions to society’s ills. This is what I express in my music. I don’t tell people how they should think, I show them a way to think differently”. (Madé Kuti – October 2022)
Inspired artist, engaged citizen, quick-witted, Made Kuti has all the qualities to seduce his future admirers. He just has to keep this height of view and never let himself be caught up in negative feelings, renunciations and jealousies. His latest single, ” Stand Tall », advocates courage and resilience in the face of adversity and obstacles. His speech continues to refine. His aura can only grow indefinitely…