This is an exclusive interview with Seun Kuti for Getupandthink before the world-wide release of his first album with Egypt 80 on the 26 of April , he will also feature next month on the next Brownswood compilation for Gilles Peterson so just before he hits France live at The Bataclan for the second time on the 26 of May ,the son of the master of Afro-beat Fela Kuti ,Seun gives us an insight about his experience in the studio with World Music top producer Martin Meissonier, Malaria and the suffering of African children , Politics & the war on Iraq as well as his personal vision of Senator Barack Obama in the US presidential race…..
NESS:
Now Seun, your first album is finally coming out , tell us what you have learnt from this first experience and what you enjoyed the most from those recording sessions ?
SEUN KUTI :
Every experience is a learning process…… I learnt alot being in the studio recording my own album. what i enjoyed the most is enjoying the music and recording !!!
NESS:
Many Things is obviously the Single on the Album with it’s highly melancholic feeling and strong song structure to it , there is a speech of Umaru Yar’Adua, your president at the begining of the song, do you fear any censorship in your country regarding that track ?
SEUN KUTI :
I know the begining might never be played on the radio here,hahahaha !!!!
NESS:
Another outstanding track from your album called Mosquito’s bite is one of the fastest song in Afro-beat ever since
‘Roforofo Fight’ in 1972 , could you explain for us the message and how that song came to your inspiration ?
SEUN KUTI :
It was my manager (Producer) Martin that suggested i write a song for malaria and i didnt hesitate after i saw how many
children are still dying from such a preventive and curable parasite……..: The song therefore is a wake
up call to the government to fight malaria for the people.
NESS :
At last Afro-beat music is spreading fast accross the world nowdays, hundreds of band play this music, do you think in the
near future you will collaborate with other like your father did in the past ?, ( Ginger Baker and Roy ayers)
SEUN KUTI :
Yeah I have the dream of collaborating with other artists but i dont have anyone in mind but i believe its
something that will happen when it happens……
NESS:
Bob Marley said in a rare interview: ‘Reggae Music is the people’s Music,
Reggae music is News’ do you think we could also say the same about Afro-Beat ?
SEUN KUTI :
Yes you can reggae for the carribean people afrobeat for the whole black race!!!!!!
NESS:
In December 2007, Nigeria exported 2.2 million barrels of crude oil per day, amounting to 68.2 million barrels sold at
$87.19 per barrel for delivery to consumers within the period under review.
Do you think the situation is worst in Nigeria than ever ?
SEUN KUTI :
The situation is nigeria has always been the same the rich getting richer and the poor getting nothing at all
NESS:
The current market jitters are centred on disturbances in the world’s credit markets. Worries about the viability of sub-prime mortgage lending have spread around the financial system, and the central banks have been forced to pump in billions of dollars to oil the wheels of lending. Do you think the war on Iraq with the US has had a major role or impact on this current world financial situation ?
SEUN KUTI :
Its all about money and america has wasted a lot of money on the war and now that america has control of
iraq oi,l oil prices have topped 100$ per barrel so its not a coincidence…..
NESS:
Now for my classic question: If you had a chance to be elected
president for a year in your country, what would you radically change?
SEUN KUTI :
I will re-educate the people in what it really means to be fufilled and sucessful because my people have
lost the basic essence of self respect !!!
NESS:
Do you think Barak Oboma, maybe the first US Black President has a
fair chance to win the elections in November and could he change the
policies on Foreign affairs ?
SEUN KUTI :
Barak obama is a good guy that i respect personally for being brave enough to take on the chance of becoming
POTUS. I will wait and see what he does because its dangerous to trust men these days, especially those in politics !!!!
Interview by NESS- April 2008
SEUN KUTI upcoming shows World-wide :
4 May 2008 20:00
JAZZ FESTIVAL DEN HAAG, Zuid-Holland
26 May 2008 20:00
BATACLAN Paris, Ile-de-France
28 May 2008 20:00
BARBICAN LONDON LONDON, London and South East
29 May 2008 20:00
FESTIVAL SKOPJE (OFF-Fest) skopje
31 May 2008 20:00
DIJON DIJON, Bourgogne
3 Jun 2008 20:00
VIP FESTIVAL ZAGREB
5 Jun 2008 20:00
JAZZ A CHATELLERAUT chatelleraut
14 Jun 2008 20:00
Festival Mundial / Tillburg HOLLAND Tillburg HOLLAND
20 Jun 2008 20:00
LOS ANGELES, GRAND PERFORMANCES LOS ANGELES, California
21 Jun 2008 20:00
LOS ANGELES, EL REY THEATE LOS ANGELES, California
22 Jun 2008 20:00
SAN FRANCISCO, STERN GROVE SAN FRANCISCO,
25 Jun 2008 20:00
VANCOUVER JAZZ VANCOUVER
27 Jun 2008 20:00
VICTORIA JAZZ FESTIVAL VICTORIA
28 Jun 2008 20:00
SEATTLE SEATTLE, Washington
29 Jun 2008 20:00
CHICAGO, HOUSE OF BLUES CHICAGO, Illinois
30 Jun 2008 20:00
CHICAGO, HOUSE OF BLUES CHICAGO, Illinois
2 Jul 2008 20:00
TORONTO, HARBOURFRONT TORONTO
4 Jul 2008 20:00
DETROIT, COMERICA FESTIVAL DETROIT, Michigan
6 Jul 2008 20:00
NEW YORK CENTRAL PARK NEW YORK CENTRAL PARK
7 Jul 2008 20:00
ALEXANDRIA, BIRCHMERE ALEXANDRIA, BIRCHMERE
7 Jul 2008 20:00
WASHINGTON, D.C, 930 CLU WASHINGTON, Washington DC
7 Jul 2008 20:00
PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA
10 Jul 2008 20:00
OTTAWA BLUES OTTAWA
11 Jul 2008 20:00
MONTREAL MONTREAL, Quebec
12 Jul 2008 20:00
WINNIPEG, FOLK FESTIVAL WINNIPEG, FOLK FESTIVAL
13 Jul 2008 20:00
QUEBEC D’ETE QUEBEC D’ETE, Quebec
17 Jul 2008 20:00
Festival de Casablanca / Marocco Casablablanca
19 Jul 2008 20:00
Festival Pohoda / Slovaquia Festival Pohoda / Slovaquia
20 Jul 2008 20:00
Festival Love Box / London UK London UK, London and South East
24 Jul 2008 20:00
Paleo / Switzerland NYON
26 Jul 2008 20:00
Globaltica World Culture Festival -Gdynia / Poland Gdynia
1 Aug 2008 20:00
Festival africa Bidon / Bidon FRANCE bidon
3 Aug 2008 20:00
Festival Bi Shill / Casstle –UK Casstle
7 Aug 2008 20:00
Festival Sakifo / La Réunion (FRENCH TERRITORY ININDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS)
Links :
myspace.com/seunkuti
http://www.totoutard.com
http://www.planete-aurora.com







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