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.
Fela KutiRead
Music must awaken people to do their duty as citizens and act.
Interpretation
Music serves as a powerful catalyst for inspiring civic responsibility and action.
Fela Kuti's quote emphasizes the transformative power of music, suggesting that it should not only entertain but also inspire individuals to engage actively in their communities and fulfill their responsibilities as citizens. This perspective highlights how art, particularly music, can mobilize people to take action in the pursuit of social justice and collective well-being.
In practice
Using the quote in a speech at a community event to motivate local artists.
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.
I'm playing deep African music.
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.
The human spirit is stronger than any government or institution.
My message was 'Think African. Make schools read African history.'
Music is a weapon of the future / music is the weapon of the progressives / music is the weapon of the givers of life
A beautiful dress may look beautiful on a hanger, but that means nothing. It must be seen on the shoulders, with the movement of the arms, the legs, and the waist.
Those of us who work in the arts know that depiction is not endorsement. If it was, no artist would be able to paint inhumane practices, no author could write about them, and no filmmaker could delve into the thorny subjects of our time.
Lord Illingworth told me this morning that there was an orchid there as beautiful as the seven deadly sins.
Realism should only be the means of expression of religious genius... or, at the other extreme, the artistic expressions of monkeys which are quite satisfied with mere imitation. In fact, art is never realistic though sometimes it is tempted to be. To be really realistic a description would have to be endless.
I wish to sing of my interior visions with the naive candour of a child.
Since the tubes of paint used by the artist are manufactured and ready made products we must conclude that all the paintings in the world are 'readymades aided' and also works of assemblage.
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