Last week was Fela’s birthday and I’ve been jamming this live ‘Pansa Pansa’ ever since. And since I am a generous person, I thought you might like to jam too.
From the Youtube page:
“One of the few pro-shot concerts of legendary musician Fela Kuti with his band Africa 70, playing for the jazz festival in Berlin, 1978. Fela was a social activist and leader who fought for freedom and justice in Nigeria. He died in 1997.”
Fela’s website says this is what was happening in 1984:
“On 4 September, as Fela is about to board a plane from Lagos to New York to start a US tour, he is arrested on charges of currency smuggling. The Afrika 70 musicians board the plane, believing Fela will be allowed to follow on a later flight. Instead, Fela is held pending trial.”
“The band plays a few US gigs then, with no sign of Fela, returns to Nigeria. In court, Fela explains that he declared the £1,600 found on him on a Customs Declaration form, but – to widespread disbelief - the police say that this has been “lost.” Customs officials who offer to testify that Fela is telling the truth are held in detention and so are unable to appear in court. Fela is sentenced to five years. First held in Kiri-Kiri Prison in Lagos, he is then moved to one further away, in Maiduguiri in the north of the country. Femi and Egypt 80 continue to perform at the Shrine.”
Legendary drummer Ginger Baker died recently in hospital at age 80.
There are legions far more skilled than I opining his life, death, and what his cantankerous persona meant or didn’t mean and we will leave all of that up to them. Just the way I think Ginger would have wanted. In the mean time, let’s remember Ginger with a couple of (what I think are) overlooked gems.
My personal favorite Baker recording is the live album with Fela, but I don’t think that’s one’s really “overlooked,'“ so instead, let’s highlight his 1990 album “Middle Passage.” The album also features Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell, and Jah Wobble who recently posted on Twitter:
Played on this Ginger Baker album, middle passage . It’s a very classy album prod by Bill Laswell . It’s got bernie worrell nicky skopelitis and others on it. I overdubbed . Bill thought it unwise that I meet Ginger. Could have been trouble.
The other selection may be a bit of a stretch since Baker doesn’t technically play on the whole album, but Public Image Limited’s 1986 album Album is another favorite.
In case you haven’t seen it yet, watch the trailer for the “Beware Mr. Baker” documentary.
Purchase Ginger Baker’s music at Amazon.