Fela Kuti is one of the most sampled Nigerian artists in the Nigerian Music industry. The Father of AFrobeat has songs that continue to preserve his legacy and what he stands for.
Mp3bullet.ng put together a list of Nigerian Songs that Sampled Fela Kuti
From beats to Lyrics, Fela Kuti has been sampled in every manner both by the Nigerian and Global music industries. His music is still a fascinating phenomenon that has been fused into different genres to produce totally new songs.
To celebrate a man of influence, a rebel who wasn’t afraid to address issues with his songs, here are Nigerian Songs that sample Fela;
- RELATED: Songs you didn’t know Sampled Fela Kuti
- RELATED: Throwback Thursday: How Fela Kuti addressed Police Brutality in his songs
Temper (Remix)- Skales ft Burna Boy
Afrobeats artists sampling the Father of Afrobeat shouldn’t come as a surprise. Skale’s “Temper“(Remix) is a sample of Fela’s “Sorrow Tears and Blood.”
When you listen to the two tracks side by side, it’s clear that both instrumental and vocal sampling is there. Burna’s feature might have influenced the Fela sample as he is well known for sampling Fela on his songs.
Original
Sample
Jaiye Jaiye- Wizkid
Wizkid has proved that he is a major fan of the “man with death in his pouch” by styling his clothing to imitate the legend’s classic attires and sampling his music.
Fela Kuti died in August 1997, when Wizkid was just seven years old, yet he had a major influence on the latter.
The Star Boy sampled Fela’s smash song “Lady” in his 2013 hit track “Jaiye Jaiye,” which also featured Femi Kuti, the legend’s first son.
He also samples Fela’s Shakara on his “Sweet Love” song off his 2013 “Sounds from the Other Side” album.
Original
Sample
Jeje- 2Baba
2Baba, a true Nigerian music legend, has experimented with a variety of sounds.
During the creation of his sixth studio album, “The Ascension,” the singer-songwriter looked to Fela for inspiration.
On “Jeje,” 2Baba, who formerly known as 2Face, sampled Fela’s “Army Arrangement.”
Original
Sample
Johnny- Falz
In 2019, Falz released his socio-politically album, “Moral Instruction” and the album was mostly influenced by Fela.
One of the songs, “Johnny” sees Falz explore the horrors of police brutality and its effect on the victims’ families. The song samples Fela’s “J.J.D” which explores a different theme about Africans who return from Abroad and automatically feel they are superior.
“J.J.D” isn’t the only song Falz sampled from Fela, he also samples Fela’s “Zombie” on his “Follow Follow”.
Original
Sample
Fela Interlude- Tiwa Savage
From her “Once Upon a Time” album, Tiwa Savage samples Fela’s “Lady” on her “Fela Interlude.”
What makes this interesting is how Tiwa manages to turn an upbeat record into a delicious acapella R’n’B track showcasing her powerful vocal dexterity.
Original
Sample
In 2019 she references a line from Fela’s “Shuffering and Smiling” on her song, “49-99”
- RELATED: Like Fela like Falz: The Nigerian rapper revolting through music
- RELATED: How Fela Kuti Inspired Most Of Burna Boy Songs.
Ye/Collateral Damage/Boom Boom- Burna Boy
Burna Boy’s grandfather used to work for Fela so it was normal that he grew listening to a lot of his records and would even sample some of them on his songs.
On his hit songs, “Ye” and ‘Collateral Damage“, Burna boy samples “Sorrow Tears and Blood” while on 2013 song, “Boom Boom Boom” he samples “Lady”
Original
Samples