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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site im4u.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!ut-sally!im4u!riddle
From: riddle@im4u.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.nlang.africa,net.music
Subject: Re: Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Message-ID: <400@im4u.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Aug-85 12:58:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: im4u.400
Posted: Tue Aug 13 12:58:50 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Aug-85 00:33:34 EDT
References: <389@mhuxr.UUCP>
Reply-To: riddle@im4u.UUCP (Prentiss Riddle)
Followup-To: net.nlang.africa
Organization: U. of Tx. at Houston-in-the-Hills
Lines: 23
Xref: linus net.nlang.africa:102 net.music:7602
Fellow-Cutie: "Bob"

In article <389@mhuxr.UUCP> mfs@mhuxr.UUCP (SIMON) writes:
>> I don't know all the facts about Fela. I have heard that he is immensely
>> popular in his native Nigeria, where he returned after playing on the
>> London jazz circuit for years. I have also heard that his uncompromising
>> denunciation of the graft and corruption rampant in the Nigerian government
>> have brought upon him the wrath of the authorities.

As long as we're talking about Fela Kuti's politics, I suppose I should
mention the one other thing I've heard about him: he is sexist to the point
of fanaticism, believes that the proper role of women is a degree of
subservience to men that is extreme even (I am told) by traditional Nigerian
standards, and maintains a harem.

None of this is intended to justify his imprisonment, but if you're thinking
about getting a "Free Fela Kuti" bumpersticker (they're popping out all over
in Austin), you should know about the bad as well as the good.

(I suppose that followups should go to net.nlang.africa only, unless they
return to the subject of Fela's music.)

--- Prentiss Riddle ("Aprendiz de todo, maestro de nada.")
--- {ihnp4,harvard,seismo,gatech}!ut-sally!riddle   riddle@ut-sally.UUCP
--- riddle@ut-sally.ARPA, riddle%zotz@ut-sally, riddle%im4u@ut-sally