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50 years on, Fela's legendary 'Zombie' album still resonates in Nigeria
The 1976 album mocked military obedience and triggered a raid that left Fela Kuti badly injured, critics say.
- Fifty years ago, Fela Kuti released 'Zombie,' a defining Afrobeat protest album mocking blind obedience to authority through martial commands to 'march, salute and fire.'
- Nigeria's military rulers seized power in 1966, using oil wealth failures as pretext to maintain control while military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo sent soldiers to schools to enforce discipline.
- The military government sent 1,000 soldiers to burn down Fela Kuti's residence, injuring his mother, activist Funmi Ransome-Kuti, while authorities banned 'Zombie' from airwaves.
- Abuja-Based activist Yunusa Yau, now 66, saw the song as a symbol of freedom, while 63% of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty with analysts noting little economic progress since military rule ended.
- Music critic Ayomide Tayo said no artist has replicated the scale of Fela's confrontation, as six people are currently charged with attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
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The Seattle TimesReposted by 
insidepolitic.co.za
insidepolitic.co.za50 years on, Fela’s legendary ‘Zombie’ album still resonates in Nigeria
In 1976, Fela Kuti's song "Zombie" became a powerful protest against Nigeria's military rule.
·Seattle, United States
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Associated Press News+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
50 years on, Fela's legendary 'Zombie' album still resonates in Nigeria
In 1976, Fela Kuti's song "Zombie" became a powerful protest against Nigeria's military rule. The military had been in power for a decade, and Fela's music criticized their control.
·New York, United States
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When in 1976 the teenager Yunusa Yau and his friends got tired of the arrogance of Nigerian soldiers in their school, they resorted to a satirical song: “Zombie”, by Fela Kuti, the song that gave title to their album released that year.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 42%
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