Universal has certainly had value-for-money out of the Afro-funk revival and renewed interest in the music of its spiritual leader, the Nigerian Fela Kuti. This latest compilation may strike some as a release-to-far following the complete reissue of the vinyl back-catalogue and innumerable compilation spin-offs with 'Afro' in their title. However, where previous offerings have been aimed at an audience familiar with Fela, this is targeted at those looking for an introduction into this wonderful and far too long overlooked body of work.
Everything that we could hope for from a Fela 'Best Of' is here, 'Shakara', 'Water No Get Enemy' and 'Coffin For Head Of State' being just a few of the 13 sprawling masterpieces on offer. As always, the arrangements cause us to marvel at the great man's influence on the contemporary scene. This goes way beyond the obvious recent Afro-beat tributes, the opening of 'Roforofo Fight' brings to mind Roy Davis Jr. and Joe Claussell and 'Water No Get Enemy' is packed with the motifs familiar from a decade of deep dance sounds.
Most importantly, what does emerge on this compilation is Fela's political voice, often buried beneath dance remixes, which bates and challenges not only the military regime at home but also the colonial mentality abroad. The legendary 'Zombie', a powerful attack on the military and frequent cause of Fela's beatings and imprisonment at the hands of the institution, is here in its full 12.20 minutes of uncompromising glory. The ultimate impression is a picture of a true original and a unique fusion of dance and political protest – nothing new in African culture – but transposed into the Western musical context it suggests that there is much to learn.
