#13 Fela Anikulapo-Kuti - The father of Afrobeat

With his first band, Koola Lobitos, Fela put the popular music of Nigeria on the map. Fela's sound, originally rooted in a carefree style called highlife, soon evolved. The bandleader pioneered Afrobeat, an upbeat mix of traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms and American funk and soul, which he used as a backdrop for often humorous political messages. Fela's popularity spawned a thrilling musical movement centered in Lagos, Nigeria, much of which is represented on the excellent collection, Nigeria 70: The Definative Story of 1970s Funky Lagos from Strut Records. Sadly, Kuti died from AIDS-related complications in 1997. Today, Fela's influence still holds. His son, Femi continues in his footsteps while the New York music collective Antibalas creates new music in the Afrobeat tradition. A tribute to Kuti is planned for 2003.