Entertainment
Wyclef Jean Titles New Single, Fela Kuti
Haitian rapper, Wyclef Jean has named his new single after Nigerian Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, explaining why he picked the name as title, Jean says Fela Kuti has inspired him and he wants young ones to know about the legendary progenitor of Afrobeat.
“I decided to name it Fela Kuti because for me, I feel like we be thinking of Bob Marley, we give a lot of people from our past props, so when the kids hear Fela Kuti, I really want them to google it”. Fela Kuti studied Jazz in England, Wyclef studied Jazz at Vailsburg High School. Fela Kuti then went back to this country and tried to help his country by running for president, Wyclef you know, did the same thing”, he said.
Wycled also said: “then, Fela through all his obstacles and all that his music is what pillared him right back to the top. He understood the strongest way to help politically was to make sure the music was banging , so for me the same kids’ can have songs called “Wyclef Jean” who are influenced by me. I want kids to know who Fela is and what he means”.
The new song, Fela Kuti is the first single off his forthcoming album, “Carnival III”, the Fall and Rise of a Refugee is due September, 15. The 12 track project will be Jean’s first studio album in eight years and will be dropped on the 20th anniversary of the release of his debut album, The Carnival.
Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat, music genre, human rights activist and political maverick. During his lifetime, he was hailed as one of Africa’s most “challenging and charismatic music performers”.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.