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Femi & Made Kuti - Afro-Beat is, if you like it are not, intellectual exclaim. It makes you think, it makes you brainstorm about things. That’s what Afro-Beat is about Aanbevolen

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Femi & Made Kuti - Afro-Beat is, if you like it are not, intellectual exclaim. It makes you think, it makes you brainstorm about things. That’s what Afro-Beat is about

Fela Kuti, the founder and godfather of Afrobeat, died of AIDS in 1997. His sons Femi and Seun are walking their father's musical path, keeping the scene alive.  Recently, the eldest, Femi, released a double album with his son Made under 'Legacy +'.
'Legacy+' features new work by Femi Kuti, 'Stop the Hate', and his son Made's debut, 'For(e)ward'. The review of this double record you can read here 
We also had a interview about this release and other plans

Congratulations on the latest release …What is it like to follow in the footsteps of an iconic figure like Fela Kuti?
Femi:
For me he was just my father, I have much respect for what he did. I’m just living my live, and do what I have to do in my live. I’m not busy with follow his footsteps or something like that.

‘Follow your own steps in live’, I found out in the double album too. There are many generations doing there pretty own thing with Afro-Beat, what’s your opinion about that?
Femi:
People like the creation of Afro-Beat and I follow it, I’m happy about how things change to. I’m fine with that.

Over the years you have also seen a lot of changes into this Afro-Beat music style , what do you think is the biggest change over the years?
Femi:
There are sure some changes, into some directions. But I don’t see any drastic evolution into the Afro-Beat style since what my father Fela did. There is sure an evolution into artists who made Afro-Beat sound more pop. But that’s not where real Afro-Beat is about. The melody , the beat it’s become a little more pop. I like that, but it’s not a big evolution from what my father did.
Made:
Evolution is a very diversion objective. It’s like my dad said if you listen critically you maybe find it’s not like before. If you talk about musicality , then there is a necessary evolution in commercial way of play Afro-beat. Back in the 80’ s and ‘90’s my dad did something with Afro-Beat that never was done before. Making it more technological or more Funky. He sure press the lines of Afro-beat. To rhythm , harmony and things. In my opinion a evolution is a progress. Not necessary change it, but respect for what have been and try to prepare it for the future.

You  said something about ‘Commercial’ but is Afro-Beat made to become commercial? I don’t know
Femi:
Some things I did in the past where commercial, but most of them where political track. You can be commercial, but people who followed Fela will always wonder where is your concern about humanity. I think that’s still important into Afro-Beat music, even today; Afro-Beat is, if you like it are not, intellectual exclaim. It makes you think, it makes you brainstorm about things. That’s what Afro-Beat is about. It makes you question, it makes you even question your existence. Afro-Beat is not just about selling music, the message is very important into Afro-Beat. Music, also jazz or classical music, it gives you space as individual to find yourself. Too even question yourself. And that’s also what’s Afro-Beat is about. We find solutions to our problems, musically and lyrically thanks to Afro-beat. That’s the difference between pure commercial, and compose the art of music.
Made:
I follow my father in this. It’s been a job into musicality. I found this with my father and uncle, there are a few exceptions.  Afro-Beat bands who play this music style more intentionally. The nature of Afro-Beat was dance and groove. Help you to find something that reflect  the inner thoughts of the composer. I find out there is a change going on, that I not like that much. And that makes me feel sad. Because that intentionally into Afro-beat and tell the story is important.

When it comes to Afrobeat, the link is quickly made to Reggae, there are points of contact, but what are the big differences?
Femi:
Reggae in the beginning was very political, it was even an revolution.  And later it become very commercial. That’s pity because there is more in live then that, it’s important  to keep you integrity . I understand the need to survive as artist, but the importance of concern about what’s going on in the word is more important.

Let’s talk about the double album. What strikes me the most, in my opinion, ‘Femi emphasizes governance, politics and the political elite’;’Made deals with interpersonal social problems’ .
We should see those problems as a symptom of bad governance and their systemic rot. is that statement correct?
Femi:
Yes that is correct
Made: My father and my grandfather are my biggest musical inspiration. When  I was writing I couldn’t find to sing about, that they not have sing about. When I was writing my album I was reflecting about how I was raised. What I been guided into. I had a lot of freedom of course. My dad was always present to offer me advice. It’s a very personal album about knowing what you compilations and compassions are, for me personal than. You knowledge of yourself. But again that also was inspiration from my father. The way I think about the subjects in my songs are  in that way not this much different then like  It was in the ‘70s ,’80s or ‘90s.

We have to be grateful for people like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, You father, great people like this. And men and women, we don’t even know their names who have fought for them as well. And also Muhammad Ali, Bob Marley. But there is still a long way to go after all this year.  You never felt like giving up?
Made:
If we do give up, than everything where we fighting for is lost. The idea you fighting for you is more we fighting for the future. The culture that we want to guide our  children into, that’s still important. We are here and want to building a better country for our future. That was where Malcolm and my father or grandfather where fighting for, and I still need doing it. So if we don’t keep doing it, then the fight is lost. There must always been that little flame, against the system.
Femi:
What’s important to, it’s a human problem. Wherever you are, you never have 100% freedom , and that system we keep protesting against. Some people talk about slavery, but if you honest, you have a job doing for a boss? Can you say you complete free? No. And that’s why I say, it’s not only a African problem, it is  a Human problem all over the world. Soo, we need to keep protest against that system, especially for the future. Like Made said.

I agree. Another thing about the record. How were the main reaction on this record?
Femi:
We got very good reviews, positive to.
Made:
I agree, we were happy with all the nice reviews so far.

After all this years, you still have ambitions or goals (end goals if you like?)
Femi:
My Priority is my children. I still want to play music, and keep compose. I have a lot time to practice, to develop myself as musician, I still do after all this years. I still want to create a couple albums, maybe four or five or some. But my priority firs is my family.
Made:
Finding a way to keep being creative, in a way that I can be satisfy about myself.

Thx for the conversation!

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