Fifty years after its release, Fela Kuti's 1976 album 'Zombie' continues to resonate in Nigeria, where its critique of military rule remains relevant. The album's title track, a satirical song mocking soldiers as mindless zombies, became an anthem for those resisting authoritarianism.
Teenager Yunusa Yau and his friends turned to 'Zombie' in 1976 to protest the high-handedness of Nigerian soldiers in their school. 'In a way, we saw him as a symbol of our own nascent attempt to protect our limited horizon of freedom,' Yau, now 66, told The Associated Press.
Fela, born in 1938 under colonial rule, is considered one of Nigeria's greatest artists. He pioneered Afrobeat with drummer Tony Allen, blending West African rhythms with jazz and funk. His music chronicled life under military juntas that ruled Nigeria from 1966 to 1999.
'Zombie' was originally a two-track album lasting 25 minutes and 24 seconds. Music critics call it Fela's most distinctive political release. The other track, 'Mister Follow Follow,' criticises blind obedience to authority. Lemi Ghariokwu, who designed the album cover, said: 'It was his definitive album. It was one of his boldest moments on record.'
Fifty years on, analysts say little has changed. The military still looms large in Nigerian public life, and six people are currently charged with attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's government. According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, 63% of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty. 'Fela was actually ahead of his time, because he seemed to have foreseen the kind of rot and decay that the military class would leave Nigeria in,' music critic Dami Ajayi said.
