Certainly, you never know which musicians will make a comeback and when. At the moment, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a pioneer in the mix of African music, jazz, funk and “Afrobeat” is enjoying a revival. As a global superstar in the 1970s, Fela Kuti is enjoying a comeback. While he’s been gone for over a decade, his revolutionary music is enjoying a resurgence in American pop culture.
Certainly, this revival is due to two main influences. “Fela!”, a hit Broadway musical, uses Afrobeat music to tell the story of Kuti’s life. This musical is backed by Jay-Z and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. In addition to this obvious recognition of Kuti’s talents, Knitting Factory Records recently began releasing re-mastered editions of his entire catalog of music. This project will include, in total, nine albums that were recorded from 1969 to 1974.