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Biography
BLP sources|date=May 2010Infobox musical artist|name = Femi Kuti|image = Femi-Kuti.jpg|caption = Kuti performing 10 November 2008 Photo: Carlos Fernández San Millán|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti|alias =|birth_date = Birth date and age|mf=yes|1962|6|16|death_date =|origin = London, UK/ Nigeria |instrument = Saxophone , Singing|vocals , trumpet , Keyboard instrument|keyboards |genre = Afrobeat , jazz |occupation = Singer-songwriter , instrumentalist |years_active = 1978–present|label =|associated_acts = Egypt 80, Positive Force|website = URL|www.femikuti.tv|current_members =|past_members =Extra musicsample|filename=FemiKutiSorrySorry(OldScho.ogg|title=Sorry Sorry|type=single Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti (born 16 June 1962) popularly known as Femi Kuti , is a Nigeria n musician and the eldest son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti .cite web|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p144290|pure_url=yes|title=Biography: Femi Kuti|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|publisher= All Media Guide|AMG |accessdate=9 May 2010
Femi was born in London to Fela and Remi Kuti and grew up in the former Nigerian capital, Lagos . His mother soon left his father, taking Femi to live with her. In 1977, though, Femi chose to move in with his father. Femi eventually became a member of his father's band.
Like his father, Femi has shown a strong commitment to social and political causes throughout his career.
He created his own band Positive Force in the late 1980s with Dele Sosimi ( Gbedu Resurrection), former key-board player of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. His international career began in 1988 when he was invited by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and :fr:Christian Mousset|Christian Mousset to perform at the Festival d'Angoulęme (France), the New Morning (club)|New Morning Club in Paris and the Moers Festival in Germany .
In 2001, Femi collaborated on his album Fight to Win with a number of U.S. musicians, including Common (rapper)|Common , Mos Def , and Jaguar Wright .
In 2002, Femi's mother, who had played an influential role in Femi's life, died at the age of 60. Femi's son currently appears as part of his act, playing alto saxophone.
Also in 2002, Femi contributed a remake of his father's classic song, "Water No Get Enemy", to Red Hot & Riot , a compilation CD in tribute to Fela Kuti that was released by the Red Hot Organization and MCA Inc.|MCA . His track was created in collaboration with hip hop and R& B artists, D'Angelo , Macy Gray , The Soultronics , Nile Rodgers , and Roy Hargrove , and all proceeds from the CD were donated to charities dedicated to raising AIDS awareness or fighting the disease.
Femi Kuti's voice is featured in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV , where he is the host of radio station IF 99 (International Funk 99, described as "playing a great selection of classics from West Africa, the US and elsewhere").
In similar fashion as his father, there have been complaints of Kuti's criticism of his homeland Nigeria, specifically in the song "Sorry Sorry".cite book|title=The Politics of Being Nigerian|isbn=978-1-4116-1956-2|year=2006|publisher= Lulu.com |pages=97|author=Okechukwu Jones Asuzu|url= http://books.google.com/books? id=XZH93qwrFJkC& pg=PA97& dq=sorry+sorry+femi+kuti+critical+of+his& hl=en& ei=S8bcTI71Ooq-sAPwj4D-Cg& sa=X& oi=book_result& ct=result& resnum=1& ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q=sorry%20sorry%20femi%20kuti%20critical%20of%20his& f=false
Femi has been nominated for a Grammy award three times in the world music category in 2003, 2010 and 2012 but never won.cite web|url= http://www.thenetng.com/2012/02/12/breaking-news-femi-kuti-loses-grammy-prize |title=Breaking news: Femi Kuti Loses Grammy Prize |publisher=Nigerian Entertainment Today |date=February 12, 2012 |accessdate=March 7, 2012
Discography
No Cause For Alarm? (1989, Polygram Records|Polygram )
Fight to Win (2001, Barclay/Polygram/Fontana MCA/Wraase)
"Ala Jalkoum" (on the album Rachid Taha Live ) (2001, Mondo Melodia)
Africa Shrine (Live CD) (2004, P-Vine)
Live at the Shrine (Deluxe Edition DVD) + Africa Shrine (Live CD) (2005, Palm Pictures/Umvd)
The Best of Femi Kuti (2004, Umvd/Wraase)
Femi Kuti The Definitive Collection (2007, Wrasse Records )
Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack#IF99_.E2.80.93_International_Funk|Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack (2008, IF99)
Hope for the Hopeless (album)|Hope for the Hopeless (2008) Collaboration with Brett Dennen
Day by Day (Femi Kuti album)|Day by Day (2008, Wrasse Records )
"Vampires" (on the album Radio Retaliation by Thievery Corporation ) (2008, ESL Music )
Africa for Africa (2010, Wrasse Records )
See also
Ransome-Kuti family
Seun Kuti
References
Reflist
External links
commonscat|Femi Kuti
http://www.femikuti.tv/ Official website
http://docsonline.tv/? search=day%20by%20day& type=title& docinfo=394 Day by Day(2010, Thomas Bataille) Documentary about Femi Kuti
Persondata | NAME =Kuti, Femi | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =16 June 1962 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Kuti, Femi Category:Nigerian people Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Nigerian musicians Category:Nigerian saxophonists Category:Wrasse Records artists Category:World music musicians Category:Yoruba musicians
