In 1977, Fela and the Africa ‘70 released Zombie, a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military.
His fans praised Zombie, but the government was infuriated and attacked his commune, the Kalakuta Republic, in the night. One thousand soldiers savagely blitzed the commune in which Fela was severely beaten, the Kalakuta Republic burned down along with Fela’s studio, instruments and master tapes, and Fela’s elderly mother thrown from a window, causing fatal injuries.
Fela claimed that he would have been beaten to death if it were not for the intervention of a commanding officer, the “Unknown Soldier”, titling one of two songs in response to the attack. The second, “Coffin for the Head of State”, was accompanied by the delivery of his mother’s coffin to the main army barrack in Lagos.
That was ‘77. In ‘78, he marked the anniversary of the attack on the Kalakuta Republic by marrying 27 women – many of which were his dancers, composers, and singers – and performed two notorious concerts. The first, in Accra, broke out in riots during the song “Zombie”, which led to Fela being banned from ever entering Ghana again. The second was at the Berlin Jazz Festival after which most of Fela’s musicians ditched him when they heard rumors that Fela was going to use the entirety of the proceeds to fund his presidential campaign.
Zombie lyrics by Fela Kuti
Zombie-o, zombie (Zombie-o, zombie)Zombie-o, zombie (Zombie-o, zombie)
Zombie no go go, unless you tell am to go (Zombie)
Zombie no go stop, unless you tell am to stop (Zombie)
Zombie no go turn, unless you tell am to turn (Zombie)
Zombie no go think, unless you tell am to think (Zombie)
Tell am to go straight
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell am to go kill
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Tell am to go quench
A joro, jara, joro
No break, no job, no sense
A joro, jara, joro
Go and kill! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Go and die! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Go and quench! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Put am for reverse! (Joro, jaro, joro)
Joro, jara, joro, zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro, zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro, zombie wey na one way
Joro, jara, joro
Attention! (Zombie)
Quick march!
Slow march! (Zombie)
Left turn!
Right turn! (Zombie)
About turn!
Double up! (Zombie)
Salute!
Open your hat! (Zombie)
Stand at ease!
Fall in! (Zombie)
Fall out!
Fall down! (Zombie)
Get ready!
Halt!
Order!
Dismiss!
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Posted By: Jen Fad
Thursday, January 7th 2010 at 1:19PM
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