Fela Kuti - Zombie w/ Africa 70
Artist: Fela Kuti | Label: Knitting Factory | Format: LP | Genre: World Music | Vinyl Condition: Mint | Cover Condition: Sealed
Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70's 1976 release
Zombie
A Re-issue from Knitting Factory Records
The fury stirred up among the Nigerian police and military by Fela’s confrontational
Alagbon Close (1974) and Kalakuta Show (1976), and the beatings and harassments
Fela and Africa 70 suffered as a consequence, were as nothing compared to the reprisalsfollowing 1976’s Zombie. Within months of its release, a brutal army attack left Fela’sKalakuta Republic compound burnt to the ground and many of its residents, includingFela, assaulted and seriously injured. On the title track, over an urgent, quick-marchaccompaniment from Afrika 70, Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform. “Attention! Quick march! Slow march! Salute!” sings Fela, “Fall in! Fall out! Fall down! Go and kill! Go and die! Go and quench!” Each phrase is followed by the women singers’ taunting response, “Zombie!” Fela continues: “No brains, no job, no sense joro jara jo; tell am to go kill joro jara jo; tell am to go quench joro jara jo (meaning, “no brains, no job, no sense left right left; tell him to go kill left right left; tell him to go die left right left.”) The army’s response was terrible... On 18 February, 1977, around 1,000 soldiers, most of them armed, swooped on Kalakuta. They cordoned off the surrounding area, broke down the wire fence around the community’s buildings, and battered their way into the central structure. Occupants were stripped and barbarously abused: particularly unfortunate men had their testicles beaten with rifle butts; particularly unfortunate women were raped (another had her nipples crushed between stones). Fela was badly beaten, sustaining a fractured skull and several broken bones. His mother, then aged 77, was thrown out of a window, fracturing a leg and suffering deep trauma. The army then set fire to the compound and prevented the fire brigade reaching the area. The blaze gutted the premises, destroying six Afrika 70 vehicles, all Fela’s master tapes and band equipment, a four-track recording studio, all the residents’ belongings and, for good
measure, the free medical clinic run by Fela’s brother, Dr Beko Ransome Kuti (who was also severely beaten in the attack). The first journalists to arrive on the scene were assaulted by soldiers. Inquisitive passers-by were similarly set upon.
The army didn’t want any witnesses.
Alagbon Close (1974) and Kalakuta Show (1976), and the beatings and harassments
Fela and Africa 70 suffered as a consequence, were as nothing compared to the reprisalsfollowing 1976’s Zombie. Within months of its release, a brutal army attack left Fela’sKalakuta Republic compound burnt to the ground and many of its residents, includingFela, assaulted and seriously injured. On the title track, over an urgent, quick-marchaccompaniment from Afrika 70, Fela and the backup singers ridicule the mindset of men in uniform. “Attention! Quick march! Slow march! Salute!” sings Fela, “Fall in! Fall out! Fall down! Go and kill! Go and die! Go and quench!” Each phrase is followed by the women singers’ taunting response, “Zombie!” Fela continues: “No brains, no job, no sense joro jara jo; tell am to go kill joro jara jo; tell am to go quench joro jara jo (meaning, “no brains, no job, no sense left right left; tell him to go kill left right left; tell him to go die left right left.”) The army’s response was terrible... On 18 February, 1977, around 1,000 soldiers, most of them armed, swooped on Kalakuta. They cordoned off the surrounding area, broke down the wire fence around the community’s buildings, and battered their way into the central structure. Occupants were stripped and barbarously abused: particularly unfortunate men had their testicles beaten with rifle butts; particularly unfortunate women were raped (another had her nipples crushed between stones). Fela was badly beaten, sustaining a fractured skull and several broken bones. His mother, then aged 77, was thrown out of a window, fracturing a leg and suffering deep trauma. The army then set fire to the compound and prevented the fire brigade reaching the area. The blaze gutted the premises, destroying six Afrika 70 vehicles, all Fela’s master tapes and band equipment, a four-track recording studio, all the residents’ belongings and, for good
measure, the free medical clinic run by Fela’s brother, Dr Beko Ransome Kuti (who was also severely beaten in the attack). The first journalists to arrive on the scene were assaulted by soldiers. Inquisitive passers-by were similarly set upon.
The army didn’t want any witnesses.
Side One is Zombie
Side Two is Mr Follow Follow
Brand New SEALED LP from Knitting Factory Records
courtesy of Kalakuta Sunrise
