November 7, 2003
For more than 20 years, Femi Osunla was the personal photographer of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the late Nigerian musician and activist credited for creating Afrobeat, which fuses American funk and jazz with traditional Yoruba and highlife music. This month, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) African-American Studies Program will host an exhibition “Black President: The Legacy of Musician Fela Kuti” featuring the photography of Osunla whose pictures capture the musical life and quiet moments of Fela Kuti. Osunla’s works are part of a group show “The Black President: The Art and Legacy of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti” now touring nationwide.
The photography exhibit, “Black President: The Legacy of Musician Fela Kuti,” is co-sponsored by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Birmingham Museum of Art. Call the UAB African-American Studies Program at (205) 975-9652 for more details.
Exhibit opening is at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 16. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 18 through Wednesday, November 19. The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is closed on Mondays.
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
1631 4th Avenue North
Birmingham, AL
Through his politically charged lyrics and electrifying stage performances, Fela Kuti preached against social injustice and corruption. At the height of his popularity, he began calling himself the “Black President.” His opposition to the Nigerian government led to violent clashes in which his family was attacked and his home was burned. He told the story in his epic song, “Unknown Soldier.” He died of AIDS in 1997, but his status as a pan-African icon has continued to grow.
Osunla is one of several artists participating in “The Black President: The Art and Legacy of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti,” a multimedia art show that recently appeared at The New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. The show is an exploration of Kuti’s influence and artistic legacy.