Afro-Beat King
The Times has always loved Fela, so it’s no wonder they make such a point of reporting on the latest exhibit at the New Museum, “Black President.” I remember reading about him in the Times long before I actually found any of his music. I got to see him perform only once; although concerts were scheduled more often than you’d expect, the Nigerian government would toss him in jail or deny exit visas to his wives or band members, so I count myself lucky. In the two hours of that one concert, I think he played maybe five songs, an example of one of the things I love most about the music: he never gave up on a swinging groove. Hypnotic isn’t descriptive enough; Fela’s music is compelling.