Femi Kuti & The Positive Force Bringing Afro-Beat to Neumos Sunday
Femi Kuti is definitely his father's son. And, although Femi has managed to get out of his father's gigantic shadow and make a legacy of his own, his story will always include his father. That is because his father is Fela Kuti. You know, the massively popular Nigerian afrobeat innovator, outspoken political activist, and overall legend who also happens to have an acclaimed off-Broadway musical based on his life and music, called Fela! (naturally). Yeah, it must be pretty tough to have Fela as a dad when you're trying to carve out a niche for yourself.
Femi got into the family business at 16 when he joined his father's band. He stepped out on his own in 1985 when he put together his own band, The Positive Force. By the 90s he had become a renowned artist in his own right with a distinctive and colorful style. Critics call Femi's music "the most exciting new sound to emerge from Nigeria for years". His sound borrows elements from from his father's music - a combo of funk and jazz with heavy African percussion - and adds the effervescence of young Nigeria and its recent love for the hip-hop, R&B, and dance music of America and Europe.
Femi's music, which not only influenced by his father's sound but also Fela's activism, carries the message of his political beliefs and is full of commentaries on African suffering from poverty to corruption to international neglect. In a recent interview with the LA Times music blog, Femi said, "People need to understand what 500 years of slavery did to Africa, what 50 years of colonialism did to Africa, what so many recent years of corrupt government has done to Africa... Young people, especially, need to understand this history in its context. They need to understand what people like Marcus Garvey, my father, my grandmother, people like this who sacrificed their time and their lives to fight for the emancipation of Africa." His most recent album Africa for Africa hits on just these issues. From the hypocrisy of African leaders who have failed their people to the brave individuals throughout history who have led the charge for positive change in his home country.
Sunday night at Neumos will be the final stop on Femi Kuti & The Positive Force's North American tour. Femi has a huge backing band with multiple percussionists, bass, guitar, multiple keyboards, a horn section, and dancers. His performances are supposed to be the most exuberant and energetic shows that you'll ever get to see. In fact, all of the show reviews we've read have used those exact adjectives or something close to those. So, based on what we've read, we are imagining that Sunday will be a huge dance party. Needless to say, we are pretty excited.
Sunday, 8 pm // Neumos // $25
