I Want Kids To Know Fela And What He Means – Wyclef Jean On New Song Titled ”Fela Kuti”

 

Grammy award winning singer, Wyclef Jean, has paid tribute to afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, with a song on his [Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee] album, titled ”Fela Kuti.”

The album, which will be released on September 15th, is Wyclef’s first full length album in 8-years.

On why he named a song on the album FELA KUTI, Wyclef told XXL:

    “I decided to name it Fela Kuti because for me, I feel like we be thinking of [Bob] Marley, we give a lot of people from our past props, so when the kids hear Fela Kuti, I really want them to Google it.” “Fela Kuti studied jazz in England. Wyclef studied jazz at Vailsburg High School. Fela Kuti then went back to his country and tried to help his country by running for president. Wyclef, you know, did the same thing. Then, Fela, through all his obstacles and all that, his music is what pillared him right back to the top. He understood the strongest way to help politically was to make sure the music was bangin.’ So for me, the same way kids can have songs called “Wyclef Jean” who are influenced by me, I want kids to know who Fela is and what he means.”