Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s son Femi Kuti and grandson Made Kuti have announced their new joint double album ‘Legacy +’ with two new songs.
Set to be released February 5, 2021, Legacy + features Femi’s album Stop the Hate and his son Made’s album For(e)ward. Both records were produced by Sodi Marciszewer, who worked on Fela’s last six albums.
The albums emphasise not just the connection between father and son, but also their shared concern for their home country, a major hub for culture and politics in Africa and across the globe.
Of the project, Femi said, “I am very excited and happy because as a father I get to perform with my son on my album again, and I get to see him compose, arrange, and play all instruments on his own album. Most importantly, we get to release this project together. It is spiritually soothing and comforting to witness this chapter in my life.”
Made added, “I truly believe that once in a while we are fortunate enough to write stories for ourselves that we can look back on much later in our lives. This has been one of the greatest positive highlights of my life so far, both musically and transcendently. I’ve learnt so much from my father politically, socially, philosophically and musically that I know this lovely project is only the beginning of more beautiful things to come.”
Much like Femi, who got his start playing in Fela’s Egypt 80 band in 1979, Made cut his teeth as a child touring with his father, playing bass and saxophone in his band Positive Force. Now, Made plays bass, alto saxophone, and percussion on Stop the Hate and is responsible for all the instrumentation on his own For(e)ward.