Femi\'s biggest breaks came after his father\'s death from AIDS in 1997. As the inheritor of the afrobeat mantle, Femi found himself in demand everywhere. He had honed his composing and arranging skills and was rewarded by a record deal with MCA for his excellent 1999 release, Shoki Shoki. Like his father, Femi speaks his mind in plain terms. \"Blackman Know Yourself\" probes the consciences of black people world wide. \"Sorry Sorry\" decries the disaster of Nigeria\'s--and by extension, Africa\'s--sad and bloody political history. Oddly enough, the only time a song has landed Femi in official trouble was when he sang a playful number about sex, \"Beng, Beng, Beng.\" Femi abhors the Nigerian government\'s 1999 decision to ban the song. He sees in it evidence of a regime afraid to address sexual issues. \"It\'s just in the past three months that we have a serious campaign against AIDS,\" says Femi. \"And now they want to use me as an ambassador. They want me to criticize my father. I tell them, \'Excuse me. It\'s not about criticizing my father. You say you want people to come out and say when they have the disease, and then you lambaste the people who come out.\'\"

Following well received U.S. tours in 2000 and 2001, there is no doubt that Femi Kuti will be shaping events in Nigeria and in African pop music for years to come. Meanwhile, a release of remixes from Shoki Shoki is bringing African into America\'s mainstream clubs, and new work from Positive Force is expected very soon. ">

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Femi Kuti
West Africa
Nigeria
Femi Kuti
Treading in the footsteps of his famous father, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Femi is now the standard bearer for Nigeria's funky, feisty afrobeat sound. Read more on Femi Kuti...
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