Femi kuti and Anjelique Kidjo: Live

Femi kuti and Anjelique Kidjo at Ravinia

Ravinia, Highland Park, IL, USA, August 06, 2018

Maja Rios, Aug 6,  2018

 

Nigerian Singer/saxophonist, Femi Kuti opened Ravinia show on a beautiful weather night. Femi, the oldest son of famous late Nigerian singer/composer

/saxophonist, Fela Kuti, opened Ravinia set with his 9 piece band that included 3 dancers, keyboardist, conga, drums, bass and horn section. They opened at a furious pace, a modal upbeat Afro-beat song with Femi on vocals and alto sax, playing several selections from his latest cd, “One People, One World”. Rolling repetitive grooves, “shake-dancers” all in time to wonderful dance grooves, call and response and singing in Afro-beat tradition.

Femi’s music is full of social messages, as was that of his late father, Fela, one of my favorite musicians of all time. Anti-poverty, world peace, one world, Africa importance as a continent, these were just a few of his themes to his original songs, mostly sung in English. “The world is Changing” was a great song, with the simple melody and complex rhythmic groove, truly African inspired music1Femi put the role of singer, in its proper place of a master storyteller, constantly singing and dancing his way through over one hour set. I loved a song about “Evil People” which I can certainly relate to and desire for world peace. “His lyrics said it all, “Evil people can never know joy”…only “power, money and greed”…certainly a motto for our times.

Next on the bill was the equally great singer/dancer Anjelique Kidjo, originally from Benin, but also a singer with a broad spectrum of world music grooves. With a

powerful voice and smooth dance grooves, she hypnotizes the audience for also an hour or more long set. Anjelique’s band included conga, bass, piano, guitar, and drums. She performed several Miriam Makeba tunes, with a voice just as powerful as Makeba. “Pata, Pata, was a standout at this set. With a powerful personality to match, Anjelique can make any song sound great. I especially liked duet she performed with her guitarist, a beautiful “afro-folk “ ballad. Anjelique sang songs from all over African continent mostly uptempo grooves except for “folk-ballad”.Anjelique truly represents “world music” philosophy when she said to the audience, “I don’t want to just be with people who only look like me”….And judging from the multi-cultural audience, her message is well received!