Nov 4, 2019
As a renowned Afrobeat and Jazz musician with four GRAMMY nominations, Femi Kuti is well-respected around the world for opening minds through the power of his music. John spoke with Femi from the Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, where he shared the details of his musical upbringing and the importance of different music cultures. He also gets into his life-changing transition from the Saxophone to the Trumpet and the effect this has had on his music and his thoughts. Femi is the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, and is considered a torch-bearer to his father’s legacy, but in this interview Femi explains why he believes that his mother, Remilekun Taylor, is actually 90% responsible for who he is.
MUSICAL MENTIONS:
0:08 World Music Foundation Podcast
0:11 John Gardner
0:14 Afrobeat
00:15 Femi Kuti
0:31 The World Music
Foundation
0:52 Africa
1:23 Fela Kuti
2:20 New Afrika Shrine
2:23 Lagos, Nigeria
2:47 GRAMMY Awards
4:27 Highlife African
Traditional Music
4:28 African Culture and
Dance
4:32 Jazz
5:00 Afrobeats
8:08 The Beatles
8:35 Highlife
10:05 Nigeria
11:07 America
11:10 Tokyo, Japan
11:12 Australia
11:50 One People One
World
12:17 Remilekun Taylor
12:39 Stardom
16:00 Music School
16:08 England
16:10 Ghana
16:38 Saxophone
19:03 Charlie Parker
19:26 James Moody
19:40 Music Shop
19:45 Mood for Love
19:49 Guitarist
19:53 George Benson
20:45 Dexterity
20:46 Improvisation
20:54 Dizzy Gillespie
20:55 John Coltrane
20:56 Art Tatum
22:52 Trumpet
22:58 Soprano Sax
23:01 C Major
23:21 Fight to Win
36:08 Cuba
36:11 Pianist
36:12 Composer
36:14 Band Leader
36:15 Roberto Fonseca
36:16 Yesun
36:49 Clave
37:22 Chocolate City Group