Fela Kuti/Hero & Prophet

Out of Africa have risen several Prophets. By Prophets I mean people who were unafraid to speak for the oppressed. They had no fear for the establishment and in some cases, were willing to die for thier convictions. When we think of Prophets our minds go to Biblical heros like Elijah, Moses and even Jesus. However, in my opinion, Prophets appear in different guises and not always in the mold of organized religion. Our Prophets have been (and are) Politicians, Musicians and ordinary men and women who were able to see a positive vision for Africa and mobilize the rest of us to do the same. Some of them were destroyed because of their unwillingness to surrender their convictions while others passed away too soon. Yet there are many still living, silently fighting and speaking up against injustice.

One of our heros/prophets is a musician and Afrobeat pioneer. His name is Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Fela sang about the corrupt and oppressive regimes of his home country, Nigeria but even by listening to his lyrics you will observe that he was a pan-africanist. He gained popularity in the 70's until his sudden death in 1997 by AIDS. He was only 58 years old. Fela was often beaten and jailed by the police for speaking against injustice. That however, did not deter him. Fela is greatly missed by millions of fans in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. He affected Africans and non-Africans alike with his music and his vision for a better life for all. Below is one of my favorite songs by him. It is titled, "U be Thief" and I dedicate it to all the corrupt leaders that are still ravaging Africa till date.
May your soul rest in peace freedom fighter!