Music must awaken people to do their duty as citizens and act.
Fela KutiRead
The art, the greatness of the music, the experience of the music is what I'm about. I think most African artists have destroyed their artistry by commercialization, and I don't want to belong to that bag.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity and artistry in music, criticizing commercialization.
Fela Kuti expresses a strong conviction about the true value of music, suggesting that its essence lies in the artistry and experience it evokes, rather than the commercial aspects that often dilute its purity. He indicates that many African artists have compromised their creative integrity for financial gain and commercial success, and he rejects this approach, choosing instead to prioritize genuine artistic expression.
Themes
MusicAuthenticityArtistryCommercializationFela Kuti
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech at a music festival discussing the importance of artistic integrity.
More from Fela Kuti
All quotes →The rhythm, the sounds, the tonality, the chord sequences, the individual effect of each instrument and each section of the band - I'm talking about a whole continent in my music.
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I'm playing deep African music.
Fela KutiRead
The human spirit is stronger than any government or institution.
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My message was 'Think African. Make schools read African history.'
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Music is a weapon of the future / music is the weapon of the progressives / music is the weapon of the givers of life
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